North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson today joined pfeg Chief Executive Tracey Bleakley, colleague Mark Garnier MP and representatives from Standard Life and the Arun Youth Council to discuss the importance of financial education for young people.
Discussion ranged from the impact such education could have for young people and the work the Arun Youth Council have been doing to help inform their peers, down to the positive effect financial education could have on social mobility.
Justin Tomlinson MP is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group For Financial Education For Young People in Parliament which now has the support of 234 MPs from all parties, making it the largest in Parliament. The Group is split into four strands, primary and secondary education, higher education, further education, and vulnerable. Having published a comprehensive report into financial education in primary and secondary schools, the Group is pushing to see it included as a part of the national curriculum.
Chairing the event, Justin said "We live in an increasingly complex financial world. Whether it is mobile phone contracts, driving lessons or the first wage slip, young people are exposed to financial decisions at an increasingly young age. It is therefore vital to give them the financial skills they need to become the next generation of savvy consumers capable of making informed financial decisions."