It has been another remarkable year as MyBnk equipped over 35,000 young people with vital finance and business skills.
Our national footprint grew as we launched programmes in the South West and consolidated our partnerships in the North. Internationally, via Consultation and Collaboration projects, MyBnk trained organisations from Wales, Italy and Brunei, successfully tested in-country training in Uganda, and helped adapt our programmes to local needs.
We were delighted that financial education became compulsory for state schools in England, entering the National Curriculum in September 2014. We mapped our programmes to the new criteria months before statutory introduction and the results are very promising. The challenge now is to make sure it is effectively delivered to every young person. Demand soared for Money Twist, our flagship schools programme, which aims to wow young people about money and more than meets the new curriculum requirements.
Together with peer organisations, we formed the Youth Financial Capability Group to collectively push for effective, relevant and unbiased financial education. We have formed a Teacher Advisory Panel and contributed to the young person strand of the Money Advice Service’s UK Financial Capability strategy.
With help from our generous supporters, MyBnk’s Impact Centre was launched to help us ensure and improve ‘what works’ through training, quality control, evaluation and programme development. Our efforts were recognised with an Award and Impact Validation from Project Oracle, London’s first children and youth evidence hub. With the support of the Big Lottery Fund,
we doubled our reach through our three enterprise programmes, which were also highlighted in ‘Enterprise Tsar’, Lord Young’s schools report, as an example of best practice.
MyBnk continues to innovate. Money Works, our ‘survival money management’ programme for those living independently, was extended, accredited and improved. We also piloted a sporty version of Money Twist for delivery outside classrooms, and tested a more in-depth enterprise project with young adults.
This year will be both exciting and challenging. Hours delivered will grow faster than the number of young people reached, as we target the more vulnerable through Money Works. Enterprise delivery will grow significantly and content will deepen as we continue to embed employability. We will use the lessons learnt from Sporty Money Twist and, potentially, cater for younger children and their parents. Outside England we plan more international partnerships.
The youth charity sector is constantly changing and our targets are subject to the revenue we raise and support we receive. We thank our team, partners, teachers, youth workers, funders and of course, the young people who work with us, for making this a breakthrough year for financial and enterprise education.
Please enjoy our new Annual Report 2013/14!
