So far more than 100 primary school children in Openshaw, Benchill and Wythenshawe have learned how to be smart with money – thanks to Manchester Credit Union’s new schools initiative.
Working with creative education partner Altru, Manchester Credit Union is delivering a series of day-long interactive drama experiences called ‘Bee Smart with Money’ across Greater Manchester, designed to improve children’s financial literacy and confidence in managing money.
Using fairytale characters and an unscrupulous loan shark in a play named Fairytale Money Troubles, the children discover the importance of talking about money, choosing responsible lenders and saving for a rainy day. They also star in the show themselves and perform it for the school and their parents at the end of the day.
Manchester Credit Union, a financial cooperative that has served Greater Manchester’s savers and borrowers for over 30 years, is behind the Bee Smart with Money campaign. Over the next few months, the campaign will visit 11 schools across Greater Manchester, engaging with pupils in its mission to develop a region of savvy savers.
So far, Manchester Credit Union has visited Higher Openshaw Primary School, Benchill Primary School and Baguely Hall Primary School.
CEO of Manchester Credit Union Mandy Wilcock said: “Worryingly, the UK ranks well below average at 15th out of 29 countries for financial literacy, which means more education about money is vital. Children’s relationships with money start as young as seven, so we must equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive.
“The Bee Smart with Money campaign is about providing fun and memorable experiences for the children and getting them thinking about their financial habits and futures. Something as simple as saving a few pounds every month can help them nurture a good relationship with money in adulthood – which has to be a positive thing.”
Miss Sarah Burke, a Higher Openshaw Primary School teacher, said: “The children had a ball. They really got into character and loved being part of the fairytale. It was an incredibly engaging way to get some simple but important messages about money over to the children.”
Miss Holt, from Benchill Primary School, said: “It was impressive to see the children put on such a brilliant production in just one day. Financial literacy is a really important skill for all children, so it was great that our year five and six students had the chance to learn about being careful with money while having lots of fun, too.”
Kate Cotterell, from Altru said: “Drama is a great way to get children to engage with big subjects. It ignites their curiosity, helps them be better learners and gives them the tools to imagine different futures and outcomes. We’re delighted to help Manchester Credit Union deliver such an important project.”
Mandy concluded: “We’re invested in helping the communities we serve, making financial education accessible to all and supporting the next generation of Manchester Credit Union members. We hope to run this financial literacy programme yearly with schools across Greater Manchester.”
Manchester Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation that exists solely for the benefit of its members in Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and High Peak. Any profit generated is returned as a dividend on savings or used to improve member services.
