We are proud to launch MyBnk in Northern Ireland this Global Money Week with Include Youth as one of our delivery partners.
The launch comes at a time when financial education is more important than ever. Despite the cost-of-living crisis being the major worry for young people, research from MyBnk and Compare the Market shows only 2/5 of young adults are financially literate.
The Need in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, three in four people think most pupils are leaving school without the financial skills they need, shows new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Additionally, 1 in 5 children in Northern Ireland are currently living in poverty (Northern Ireland Audit Office).
The panel discussion was based on the importance of financial education as a social justice issue and how we can create a fairer financial future for the next generation in Northern Ireland. The discussion was insightful and thought-provoking. It highlighted the urgent need of organisations like MyBnk for the local youth.
The panel was made up of:
- Emmanuel Asuquo, Financial Advisor and TV personality
- Blair Anderson, Youth worker and Trustee at Include Youth
- Dr Paula Rodgers, Policy coordinator at Include Youth
- Leon Ward, CEO at MyBnk
One of the panellists, Dr Paula Rodgers, said: 
“More and more families and young people are struggling to meet basic needs. In a recent survey 78% of young people, we work with are worried about money.”
Alongside dedicated local organisations like Include Youth, MyBnk aims to financially empower young people in Northern Ireland and provide them with the tools and resources they need to manage their money effectively.
MyBnk will deliver programmes for 7–25-year-olds, including our programme aimed at young people moving into independent living, Money Works. In Northern Ireland, our programmes are primarily funded by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
MyBnk works with over 40,000 young people per year across the UK. But there is still more to be done to improve the financial futures of the nation’s young people. With the support of our partners and funders, we hope to keep this mission ongoing and at the forefront.
Angela Hillan, Regional Manager for Northern Ireland, said:
“The average Northern Ireland household income is 8% lower than the UK average, with more of a household’s income going on the necessities. On top of that, our financial literacy rate is the lowest nationally, with 18-24 year olds falling behind other age groups locally. At a time when our young people need financial education the most, secondary pupils and parents have reported a 14% drop in meaningful education in secondary schools since the pandemic. MyBnk’s programmes can help to support all the arduous work already going on across Northern Ireland to help improve the financial literacy and therefore the financial resilience of our young people in today’s difficult financial climate.”
Quote from young person attending MyBnk session in Northern Ireland
“I found this course very beneficial. The tutor took time out to ensure everybody understood. I have learnt a lot about saving and more in-depth information about my credit score and how to improve it”. – Participant at Roe Valley Residents Association
To book a session with us in Northern Ireland, please email angela.hillan@mybnk.org
Read more about our work in Northern Ireland here
Follow our activities across Norther Ireland on Twitter @MyBnkNI and on Facebook @MyBnkNorthernIreland
