“WOODLEY WALLET WATCHERS’ WIN IS GREAT NEWS!” says Stunell & Smart
Andrew Stunell MP & Lisa Smart, PPC, praised Woodley Wallet Watchers for their win at the Money for Life Challenge put on by Lloyds Banking Group, they are now through to the English final which is due to be held on 2nd April.
The Woodley Wallet Watchers formed in December. They are a group of young people, aged between 16 and 24, who share a similarity in being poor with money management.
Their plan is to discourage 16-24 year olds from using pay day lenders and encourage saving at a realistic level.
Left-Right on the photo there is Laura Ward, founding member of Woodley Wallet Watchers, Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove and Jamie Toland, founding member of Woodley Wallet Watchers.
Andrew Stunell MP said -
"When you don't have much money to go round finding a good way to manage it is just what you need. These young people have now got a grip, and are finding they can make the funds stretch. Better than that, they're showing other people how it's done. It was just great to see their enthusiasm. Fingers crossed for 2nd April!"
Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove, and now Director of Stockport Credit Union, said -
"Getting the money together for something you really want like a car or a holiday might seem unachievable at first. Saving a little each week, and hearing how other young people have done it, makes it so much easier. As a Director of Stockport Credit Union, it was great to see the group offer a serious alternative to pay day lenders and loan sharks. I wish them the best of luck for the final!"
Commenting, Laura Ward, founding member of Woodley Wallet Watchers, said -
"We were initially put forward to complete the Money for Life Challenge, which is funded by Lloyds Banking Group, by our sponsor, Nicola Dean, and the idea was to run weekly finance sessions for young people; however we were encouraged to run the project ourselves and therefore when we all got together and discussed the real reasons why we couldn't/wouldn't save, we realised we needed a totally different angle on the project to be successful in engaging with other young people and we changed the plan completely."
"Being able to lead our own project and come up with our own ideas was empowering and encouraged us to take ownership, which in turn made us really passionate about making it work."
Woodley Wallet Watchers are through to the English final of the Money for Life challenge which is to be held at London Zoo on 2nd April. There is then the chance they will make it to the UK grand final which is to be held in May.
Details on their win can be accessed here -
http://www.moneyforlifechallenge.org.uk/news/januarys-competition-the-results-are-in/
Check out their blog which includes a link to our booklet and video -