Talking about financial literacy
Today is National Numeracy Day. A very good day to talk about feeling confident with numbers.
At Citizens Advice this year we’re talking mainly about confidence in managing money. And we’re setting up a financial literacy project* to help Epsom & Ewell High School students prepare for adult life.
Our specialist Money Advice team will run the first sessions with Year 12 students in the autumn. In a lively format they’ll cover a range of money matters from household budgets and buy now pay later to housing costs, employment and even scams awareness.
Lisa Davis, our CEO, spoke to Radio Jackie recently about why financial confidence is so important for young adults. Listen here.
Last year, Pro Bono Economics, a charity, published research** showing why projects like ours are necessary. They estimate the cost of poor numeracy to the UK is at least £25bn in lost wages. It also:
- hits progression at work
- increases debt and money problems
- hampers supporting children at school
- increases inequality and poor health outcomes.
* Made possible by generous support from Ruxley Foundation and our Surrey County council members.
** Counting on the recovery: the role for numeracy skills in ‘levelling up’ the UK, April 2021