Lotto funding takes financial education into Blackburn primary schools

DebtAware have formed a partnership with Shadsworth and Whitebirk Big Local to teach money management know-how to Blackburn pupils.

We secured £2,000 from the lottery-funded Big Local to bring our DebtAware Money Management Programme into four new primary schools in the area; Intack Primary, Shadsworth Junior School, St Antony’s RC Primary and St Oswald’s C of E Primary.

The funding has meant that 320 Blackburn children aged 9-11 have received the lessons in managing money with 36 children trained as Money Mentors.

The partnership was so successful that this year Shadsworth and Whitebirk Big Local have increased the resources available to the scheme.

In a special project, DebtAware were awarded £2,000 to produce a series of money podcasts with voiceovers by Intack Primary School pupils and editing by the Rock FM Radio Academy. Subjects covered included gambling, entrepreneurship and debt.

We also recently received approval for a further £4,000 to continue with the programme for another year and forge links with local parents. Money Mentors and students will now produce monthly “Money Tips for Parents”, complete home-based extension tasks and demonstrate what they do within the programme at parents’ evenings.

Brian Souter, Education Manager at DebtAware said;

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Shadsworth and Whitebirk Big Local and to really extend the work we do in the Blackburn area. Financial capability is an essential life skill and so we feel our project is very worthwhile, as clearly do the Big Local.”