Warwickshire News Mine

The group of five mums completed the Bedworth, Rugby and Nuneaton’s Citizens Advice Bureau (BRANCAB) Money Management course which took place at the children’s centre on Mortimer Road over a five week period in November and December 2009.

Course tutor Dave Grove from BRANCAB nominated the mums for an Adult Learners’ Week award for the impressive way they supported one another through the modules and how they implemented what they learnt.

The group won a special award ‘Yorkshire Bank Special Learning Award – 2010’ unique to the Midlands region. They are looking forward to attending the regional award ceremony on 17 May at West Midlands Safari Park, where their success will be celebrated.  They will collect their certificate and a monetary prize whilst enjoying a wonderful day out with the other regional and national winners from West Midlands.

The course, part of the Horizons project funded by Barclaycard, covers a wide variety of skills and self awareness to enable people to take control of all aspects of their finances. It will soon be on offer elsewhere around the county as part of a wider financial skills programme offered by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as part of the newly developing Warwickshire Financial Inclusion Partnership (FIP).

Financial Capability Development Worker Dave Grove said: “I submitted the nomination to NIACE because I was so impressed with how this group approached their learning and I’m really pleased and proud that they have won the award.

“They took everything on board and quickly applied their new skills to manage their personal finances. Beyond the sessions the mums shared the information and skills with members of their families and friends, having a direct impact on not only their own lives but on others as well.

“It is widely accepted that people who are ‘financially capable’, make ends meet, keep track, plan ahead, choose the correct financial products and stay informed. Our aim is to ensure that everyone attending our sessions will be able to tick all of the above by do this by delivering a course that is aimed to be rich in collaborative and interactive exercises and activities.”
. Children’s Centre Manager Fiona Caddick added: “The parents all put a great deal of hard work into this course and truly deserve this recognition of their efforts. Money Management is just one of a range of adult learning courses offered at the centre and part of a package of services tailored to meet the needs of families and the under-5s, which includes: health and family information sessions, childcare, stay and play sessions, and employment advice.

“Since the centre opened in June 2008 we have developed strong links with the local community and Kenilworth families regularly drop in to St John’s to access services and socialise with one another. Our aim is to provide a warm and welcoming environment for centre users, and the extremely positive feedback we receive from parents reassures us that we are achieving this.”

Offering such courses through children’s centres proves to be a winning formula, Money Management participant and mum Deborah Thomas explained: “Beyond learning about budgeting, understanding credit and APRs, learning how to prioritise our expenses and knowing our statutory rights as customers, I feel the most valuable part was getting to know other mums in my community and creating friendships and a local support network through the centre.”

For more information about activities and services at St John Children’s Centre please call 01926 856397.

To find out more about money matters offered by BRANCAB contact Dave Grove on 024 7664 3206.

Link to WCC