Manchester's own Marcus Rashford MBE has helped launch an initiative to help improve young people’s confidence around money.
The new programme, Thrive, is launching this Easter at the Norbrook youth club in Manchester and will include workshops designed to help young people talk about money and improve their confidence around money issues.
The youth club is home turf for the Manchester United star as it is the club he attended as a teenager. However, this is not the only place Thrive is being launched as similar programmes are taking place across the country.
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Rashford has teamed up with the National Youth Agency and NatWest Thrive for the programme. The partnership of NatWest, Marcus Rashford and the National Youth Agency’s aims to help the 67 per cent of young people who say they worry about money. Only 8 say they feel like they have had any financial education from the classroom, so the collaboration offers support and guidance to young people and aims to create a positive mindset about money matters.
Led by youth workers, the programme has been tailored for young people, making the financial messages and guidance practical and relevant The workshops will include talks busting myths when talking about money and helping young people be aware of their own money beliefs as well as setting goals.
Marcus Rashford, MBE, said of the launch: “A lot of kids are scared to go to a bank, and that’s not surprising because they don’t teach you about money mindset at school. For those who grew up in the sort of area that I did, it’s about what you don’t have, rather than what you could achieve. The positive and empowering element doesn’t register in their heads.
“It’s not hard to reverse that, but not many people are trying to change that. It’s why I’m proud to work with NatWest on the Thrive Programme.
“I know so many talented young people who could really benefit from a program like this, who could actually propel themselves into something much bigger and achieving their goals... I’m really excited to be involved and to help shape the program.”
Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest commented: “Helping young people – no matter what their background – to thrive and develop a positive money mindset is core to our purpose and what I want us to achieve as a bank. We know education through inspiring relationships can have a big impact on young people, that’s why with the Thrive Programme we’ll be working with local and relatable people within the community to help young people reach their potential.
“Co-creating this programme with Marcus has helped us to better tailor our content to the real-life experiences of young people, and has only reinforced the amazing impact that positive role-models and peers can have in helping to develop an understanding of money and goal-setting.”
Leigh Middleton, CEO of the National Youth Agency said, “We are delighted to be partnering with NatWest and Marcus Rashford to design and deliver such an important programme. All young people deserve to thrive; high quality youth work gives young people access to that one inspirational adult that can make the difference growing up.
“Youth workers provide safe spaces to explore their identity, increased self-confidence and develop the life skills to thrive growing up. The Thrive Programme will provide youth workers with fantastic resources, toolkits and knowledge to continue transforming the lives of young people and enable them to reach their potential.”
