Scouts launch volunteering program with HSBC UK to help more young people learn key money skills

HSBC UK’s volunteer network is expected to reach over 14,500 Beaver Scout Colonies and Cub Scout Packs across the UK over the next few years, including visiting weekly meetings and running one-day workshops in locations such as the West Midlands.

The new volunteering program comes after Scouts worked with HSBC UK to develop its Money Skills Activity Badge; The first of its kind, over 150,000 young people have earned their Money Skills Activity Badge since 2021.

Natalie Gregoire-Skeete, Head of Sustainability UK, HSBC UK, said: “Contactless, digital and mobile banking services increase the invisibility of money, making it even more difficult to build young people’s financial confidence; indeed, research shows that more than half of children between the ages of 6 and 10 say they don’t understand money.

“Financial skills are life skills and by working together we are able to deliver engaging, high quality sessions that will give more young people the opportunity to earn their money skills badge and build financial capacity for the future.”

Georgie Howarth, Scouts-HSBC UK volunteering program manager, speaking at the launch, said: “When we launched the Skills Money badge in 2021, we knew we were meeting a critical need in youth development, and this volunteering program takes delivery. of these skills to another level.

“Having a network of 200 skilled and enthusiastic HSBC UK volunteers working alongside our Scout Leaders across the UK gives us the opportunity to help young people better develop these key life skills. It means that where Scout leaders lack confidence in their subject knowledge, they can use the local expertise available in their communities to work with them, and young people will not miss out.

“With the support of HSBC UK, we have been able to create a volunteering program that is truly the first of its kind, bringing an important new way of providing these skills to tens of thousands of young people.”