The Cumberland's MoneyJam programme returns to schools this Autumn
Primary school children across Cumbria, Lancashire and South West Scotland are returning to MoneyJam workshops this term, as The Cumberland Building Society extends its financial literacy partnership with FutureJam into a second year.
The programme, delivered by FutureJam, a community interest company specialising in life-skills education, brings interactive money lessons to children aged seven to eleven. In its first term it reached over a thousand children across 26 primary schools between March and August, with The Cumberland’s colleagues volunteering in classrooms and dozens of local teachers trained to keep the learning going long after the sessions end.
Before their workshop, most pupils said they felt only a little confident making decisions about money. That changed fast. They learned to budget, and to spot the difference between a want and a need. In one exercise, they planned a school party on a set budget. They worked out what they could afford, what they had to leave out, and why it's worth saving something back.
This term, the programme is heading to new places too. The Cumberland is funding 34 further workshops, including the first MoneyJam session in Scotland, at Eastriggs, alongside sessions all across Cumbria. More teacher training and parent sessions are planned, along with continued volunteering from Cumberland colleagues, and the partnership will run right through to the 2027 Summer term.
Claire Deekes, Chief Customer Officer at The Cumberland Building Society, said: “Learning about money at a young age is one of the most valuable things we can provide children with. The confidence to budget, to make decisions, to understand the difference between what you want and what you can actually afford, these are skills that stay with you for life.
“We're proud to bring these workshops to more schools this year. The feedback from children, teachers and parents has been genuinely heartening, and we know how much it matters to get this right early.”
Florence Tewson, FutureJam Founder said she'd loved seeing the children grow in confidence.
She said: “Normalising conversations about money means a new generation of young people will feel far more comfortable making financial decisions. These are transferable life skills that will serve them in every area of their lives.”
The Cumberland Building Society operates 31 branches across Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and South West Scotland. MoneyJam is part of its wider commitment to financial inclusion and community investment across the regions it serves.
Click here for more information about FutureJam.