HSBC UK staff working with Scouts to help youngsters learn money skills

More than 200 trained HSBC UK employees are helping Beaver and Cub Scouts build financial literacy skills.

HSBC UK’s network of volunteers aims to reach more than 14,500 Beaver Scout Colonies and Cub Scout Packs across the UK over the next few years, the Scout Association said.

The new volunteering programme comes after Scouts worked with HSBC UK to develop their money skills activity badge.

More than 150,000 young people have earned their badge since 2021.

Natalie Gregoire-Skeete, head of sustainability UK, HSBC UK said: “Contactless, digital and mobile banking are increasing the invisibility of money, making it even harder to build young people’s financial confidence; indeed, research finds that more than half of children ages six to 10 say they don’t understand money.

It means that where Scout leaders lack confidence in subject knowledge, they can tap the local expertise available in their communities

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

Georgie Howarth, programme manager for the Scouts-HSBC UK volunteer programme said: “When we launched the money skills badge back in 2021 we knew that we had met a key need in young people’s development, and this volunteering programme takes the 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 an opportunity to help young people better develop these key life skills.

“It means that where Scout leaders lack confidence in subject knowledge, they can tap the local expertise available in their communities to work with them and young people won’t miss out.”