Prevention is better than cure. That is the ethos behind the new Trading Standards initiative Synnwyr Arian, Money Sense, currently being piloted in Five Roads Primary School.
The programme consists of a series of lessons covering issues such as work, tax, budgeting and consumer rights with the aim of ensuring that all young people have the confidence, skills and knowledge to deal with financial matters.
Trading Standards hope to build on the success of this pilot by offering the programme to other Carmarthenshire primary schools and expanding on the topics covered to meet the needs of students in Secondary and Further Education.
Five Roads School headteacher Gareth Gravell said: “The ‘Money Sense’ initiative has been a huge success at Five Roads School. It has provided the pupils with excellent money handling skills as well as providing an invaluable insight into work, saving, borrowing and sensible spending and financial planning.”
Chairman of Governors and local member Cllr Jim Jones said: “It is a wonderful scheme and I think all schools should take part. It teaches children how to handle money and will also help to improve their ways of saving later in life.”
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “I think it is an excellent scheme and when we visited Five Roads School the youngsters themselves were very enthusiastic. I wish they’d had this scheme when I was a lad.
“I am sure that other schools will take notice of what is happening with this pilot and will take part in this scheme.”
For further information contact Jan Cole or Heidi Morris on 01554 742249.
