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Financial Skills for life - what we do

Two people running financial capability session

All our work focuses on helping people develop the skills and confidence to avoid financial crisis.

Financial Skills for Life is the national financial capability programme of Citizens Advice. We support local Citizens Advice Bureaux and their partners to deliver educational initiatives that help people avoid unmanageable debt and other money problems. This work builds on our position as a trusted provider of money advice, information and policy influence.

Citizens Advice Bureaux deliver high-quality financial skills programmes to people in the heart of their communities. They help clients head off debt problems, access government help and use financial services. They also equip people to budget effectively, avoid poor deals and improve their savings position.

We have been determined to assess the impact of our work, and learn from experience. Independent evaluations of financial education initiatives by bureaux and forum members over the last ten years have all been positive. They show that our work makes a direct and positive difference to people's lives. Participants in bureaux sessions were afterward found to be:

  • better equipped to head off potential debt problems
  • more aware of government entitlements and sources of help, improving their access to housing and training opportunities
  • more willing to try new financial services.

(source: ECOTEC Research and Consulting)

The benefits are long-term and cumulative. Participants surveyed some months after taking part had changed their patterns of behaviour. They had kept to their budgeting plans, increased their savings and felt empowered to avoid exploitative lending practices and excessive borrowing. Many had passed on what they had learned to family and friends.

For further information: Our projects and project evaluations.

Citizens Advice