3rd April, 2008

Northern Bank and Citizens Advice have launched new locally produced personal finance teaching resources aimed at young people in Northern Ireland.

‘Money Talks’ is an award-winning range of personal finance educational resources which now incorporates brand new resources including a DVD and PC game, along with a new look and refreshed content.

The teaching resource pack was first developed by Citizens Advice and Northern Bank four years ago, pre-dating the UK’s Financial Capability Strategy. It deals with topical issues such as consumer rights, overspending on credit cards and budgeting and is designed mainly for use among 11-17 year olds.

Money Talks is the only financial capability resource produced specially for the Northern Ireland curriculum and plugs a vital gap in knowledge for teachers and as well as meeting the GCSE for Learning for Life and Work.

However the updated teaching resources have been designed for a wider range of youth audiences, not just schools.

The new resources include a DVD, an interactive game for PCs, practical money management activities and a handbook containing detailed information on each of the topics covered including consumer rights, income, banking, savings, credit, debt and budgeting.

The DVD is a drama produced by the Nerve Centre and features a young man who finds himself in debt. It’s designed to get a discussion going and stars local actor Andrew Simpson who recently starred alongside Dame Judi Dench in the recent film ‘Notes on a Scandal’.

Speaking at the launch, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley, said: “Managing money isn’t something we are born with. It is a skill that we need help to learn. This pack informs and educates in a practical and sensitive way that I’m sure will be of use in the classroom and beyond.”

Citizens Advice and Northern Bank staff are available to deliver Money Talks as a free one-hour talk in schools, youth clubs and other youth settings.

Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice N.I. said: “Citizens Advice is pleased to have developed this important work on financial capability for young people in partnership with Northern Bank. Since 2006 the Citizens Advice network has dealt with over 54,000 debt enquiries, an 18% increase on the previous year. This highlights the need for financial education and debt prevention work across Northern Ireland. We are committed to supporting the prevention of debt related poverty through education for this generation of young people".

Rosamond Bennett, Northern Bank’s Head of Communications added: “The FSA’s Baseline Survey of Financial Capability in 2007 revealed that Northern Ireland consumers are bottom of the league in the UK when it comes to being financially savvy. We can help young people today from making very expensive mistakes in the future by helping them to understand money and take responsibility for their own finances now. This will also help develop their confidence in making the right financial choices when they leave home to work or for further education.

“Money Talks meets a very real need in the community and provides a great opportunity for staff from across our branch network to share their skills and enthusiasm in classrooms and youth settings. And we’re still the only local bank doing this sort of work on financial capability.”

Anyone interested in booking a Money Talks session should contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau or Northern Bank branch.