Me & Money programme: young people and conversations about money
Me & Money equips young people with financial and mental health skills, building resilience and confidence during #TalkMoneyWeek and beyond.
In the current economic climate, equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to improve their relationship with money is more important than ever. For many young people, managing finances can be a major source of stress.
Given the rising living costs and prevailing uncertainties, establishing a solid foundation for financial resilience is crucial. According to the Children’s Society’s annual Good Childhood Report financial concerns are now the top worry for young people. During the pilot phase of Me & Money, 80% of the young people we worked with (more than 1,500 participants) expressed that they were experiencing daily or weekly money worries.
“Hearing about money worries/ problems at home can be stressful and sad and makes me want to help but I don’t know what I can do.” – Young Person, Me & Money Co–Production session.
Our recently relaunched Me & Money programme focuses on equipping 14-18 year olds with a suite of resilience building skills and tools around money, which they can use to support themselves and others.
This initiative goes beyond budgeting basics. It connects mental health and financial wellbeing to give young people a safe space to explore how attitudes towards money can influence their emotional health, thoughts and behaviours.
Through enabling open discussion in our sessions and approaching the topic from a mental health perspective, young people are better prepared to discuss how their behaviour can affect the way they manage their money and feel more in control of their emotions around money and spending.
“Putting money and mental health was useful because it’s not something people often connect. It’s different as not many people discuss how finances can influence mental wellbeing,” reflected one of the participants in the Me & Money workshop.
Another participant said: “I felt like I knew a lot about it, but I also learned new thing – especially about managing the emotional side of money. It showed how money can be a big source of worry and that everyone’s circumstances can be different, which means we all handle it differently.”
Ciara Mallon, Engagement Officer for Young People’s Programmes, shared
“Delivering Me & Money has been incredibly rewarding. We’re creating a safe space for young people in Scotland to understand how money and mental health intersect, helping them develop both essential skills and resilience.
“Hearing their reflections shows just how vital it is to have resources co-created with their experiences in mind.”
#TalkMoneyWeek
Initiatives like Talk Money Week challenge the stigma around talking about our finances.
“Mental health and money is a highly stigmatised topic. Encouraging open and honest conversations make it so much easier to seek advice. Through initiatives like this, we build confidence and empower young people to question their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and enable them to have a better relationship with their finances now and in the future,” – said Hannah Dibnah, Service Manager for Young People’s Programmes at Change Mental Health.
This year’s Talk Money Week highlights the importance of open conversations about money and encouraging others to ‘Do One Thing’ to improve their financial wellbeing. Me & Money aligns perfectly with this message, helping young people feel more confident discussing money and their finances. After participating in workshops, 80% of young people said they would know where to go and where to find support for financial and mental health needs if they needed it, and 68% said they would feel more comfortable talking about money to a trusted person (friend, teacher, parent, etc).
One young participant shared how the programme has influenced their relationship with money at home: “After completing the workshop, I’ve talked to my mum a lot more about money. We talked about what help or advice I can get from her that will help me… She was very helpful.” This shift towards open communication is one of the key aims of Me & Money, which helps young people see money management as part of their everyday lives and not something to fear or avoid.
In our workshop for 17-18 year olds, Me & Money introduces simple but impactful steps that can make a difference in our ability to manage money well. We discuss with young people how avoiding finances can lead to bigger issues, reinforcing that building a habit of keeping tabs can prevent us from getting to the point where we have no control over our finances. Creating a budget each month may take some time initially, but it helps young people manage their finances better and reduces stress to support their mental health in the long term.
“With the economic uncertainty that we are facing just now, it is more important than ever to help our young people understand proper money management, budgeting and saving to cope with these challenges,” explains Vicki Andrew, Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Delivery Officer at North Ayrshire Council. “Financial stress is a leading cause of anxiety and depression. Effective money management can reduce stress leading to better mental wellbeing.”
“In my job role I have an approach of being proactive in learning and understanding as opposed to being reactive when our young people are in crisis. In delivering programmes like Me & Money and supporting young people in their understanding of circumstances and emotional awareness, I can help provide the tools young people need to address the peaks and falls that they will undoubtably face in their lifetime.
“I’m really excited to be one of the first people to support and facilitate the rollout of this crucial programme across North Ayrshire.”
Vicki Andrew, Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Delivery Officer at North Ayrshire Council
get involved with Me & Money
Me & Money, like all of Change Mental Health’s Young People’s Programmes, is an early intervention programme. We partner with organisations, schools and youth settings, and are focused on leaving a legacy with organisations we work with. In all of our programmes, we upskill staff so they can continue to deliver our programmes and feel confident in having conversations about mental health with the young people they work with.
If you are interested in partnering with us, and bringing Me & Money to the young people you work with, please contact: youngpeople@changemh.org
if it’s not safe to talk
One crucial point: sadly, sometimes it’s not safe for everyone to talk so openly.
If a partner or a family controls access to a person’s money, or runs up debts in their name, it is financial abuse. There’s no other name for it and it’s wrong. It’s a difficult, horrible situation for anyone to be in but there’s no need for them to struggle alone.
If this is happening to you or you suspect it is happening to someone else, MoneyHelper’s ‘Financial abuse: spotting the signs and leaving safely information can offer some guidance.
support
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
