Jersey Mencap practise money skills

Thursday 13 November 2014

Jersey Mencap members have completed the final workshop of the charity’s money skills project.

The charity received £7,500 from the Barclays Community Awards last year to support the project which consisted of a series of fun and informative workshops to improve confidence in everyday tasks such as dealing with money, budgeting for shopping and cooking a healthy meal.

Jersey Mencap works with adults and children offering support and more choice for people with a learning disability.  They maintain a number of projects including art, self-advocacy and a members social club.

The money skills project, which included tours and demonstrations at local businesses, was organised by Alex Wiles at Jersey Mencap with the help of Barclays, The Co-operative Society, Liberty Bus and local Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin.

Members visited the arclays Library Place branch to meet with Yasmine Vockins and Kim Cope from the counters team for a tour of the branch. Members were shown how to use the ATM and how to pay cash and cheques into their accounts.

Alex Wiles from Jersey Mencap said: “Whilst the focus was on everyday life skills, this project has also given us so many new experiences from a behind the scenes tour at Barclays to seeing local produce being grown and the journey from field to shop floor to restaurant kitchen.  We’ve had such positive feedback from this project and our sincere thanks to all those that made it possible.”  

Adele Langlois from Barclays said: “Developing the skills young people need to fulfill their potential is a key objective for the Barclays Community Awards in Jersey. The Jersey Mencap money skills project is a fantastic initiative and Barclays was pleased to be involved not only from a funding perspective but also by using our staff and business activity to support the members. I hope they have found all these experiences of benefit and that this has boosted their confidence in these areas.”