Having a good understanding of how money can be earned, saved, and spent safely is important, but all too often, financial literacy isn’t a skill that children and young people are taught.
Barnardo’s SEEN is helping to close the financial literacy gap with our Money Matters project aimed at supporting children and young people to begin their financial education, especially those at greater risk of being excluded from school and those already excluded and in pupil referral units. Our SEEN Systems Change Manager, Delano Gournet-Moore, explains more about how we created Money Matters and why it’s important.
Why we created Money Matters
Our Money Matters project started with curiosity.
"What do you want to learn about? What do you want to talk about? What matters to you?” Barnardo’s SEEN asked these questions to young people; young people whose voices are often unheard, young voices of global majority heritage, with intersections of protected characteristics.
One big subject emerged that all the young people wanted to discuss and learn more about: money. How to earn it, how to save it, how to spend it.
We listened and we created Money Matters: a resource dedicated to helping children and young people develop a healthy relationship with money management – particularly those most at risk of structural disenfranchisement.
How does the project support young people?
At its core, Money Matters recognises that financial exclusion is often a symptom of deeper systemic inequalities. Many young people, especially those affected by racial injustice, intergenerational poverty, or experience of the care system, aren’t given the tools, knowledge, or support systems needed to navigate money management confidently or sustainably.
We partnered with My Financial Harmony and Mercury Minds, two grassroots organisations that specialise in supporting young people in precarious financial situations with developing healthy financial habits.
The Money Matters guide combines professional financial expertise with real-world insights and lived experience, covering important concepts like:
-
Understanding assets vs. liabilities.
-
Developing diverse income streams.
-
Smart saving habits.
-
Recognising and avoiding common financial pitfalls.
-
Building credit and understanding debt.
We also co-produced a series of videos with children and young people within the Money Matters guide to help make the information even more accessible.
Whether you’re a young person, a parent, or a professional – our Money Matters guide can help you to build healthier money habits.
By encouraging a mindset shift in how we think about money, we’re helping to close the financial literacy gap and build stronger, more secure futures.
Employment, training and skills
Our Employment Training and Skills (ETS) courses provide young people with skills and qualifications they can build on and develop throughout their working life.
“As a young person working full time, and barely managing to afford my bills, I don’t think there’s enough help available.”
Sumayia, a 19-year-old from Swansea, shares her experience of struggling with the high cost of living and explains how we've helped her to live on her own since she was 16.
Cost-of-living crisis: Where to get support if your family is struggling
We know that the cost-of-living crisis is making life harder and harder for families. So, if you’re struggling to afford the essentials, here is where you can get support.