Roll On Money Week 2010!
Friday 5 March 2010
Money Week 2010 got underway at a special event in Fermanagh’s Clinton Centre today (5 March). Economy Minister, Arlene Foster joined the Financial Capability Partnership NI and Fermanagh District Council to launch the week-long initiative, which aims to equip local people with the skills and confidence to manage their money better.
From family budgeting sessions to debt and benefits workshops and from a community ‘shred event’ to a presentation for businesses on managing their relationship with their bank, the events will take place from 6-12 March across Fermanagh. They are free to attend and open to individuals, families and businesses.
Speaking at the event, Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council – which chairs the Financial Capability Partnership – paid tribute to the work of the partners in organising Money Week and thanked Minister Foster and the Director of Financial Capability of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for taking time out to help to launch Money Week.
“Much planning and preparation have gone into organising Money Week and partners have endeavoured to create interesting, informative and truly valuable events for local Fermanagh people. Research shows that Northern Ireland comes bottom of the UK league in terms of having the skills and confidence to manage our money. Therefore the support that we receive from FSA – as part of its National Strategy for Financial Capability – is absolutely vital, as it allows us to carry out targeted initiatives like Money Week, which really get into the heart of the community to help people with their money worries. We are also delighted to have the support of our Economy Minister today in reinforcing the importance of financial capability, for the benefit of local people and the local economy, as a key priority for the NI Executive.”
Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive, the Consumer Council, Arlene Foster, Economy Minister, Chris Collins, Director of Financial Capability, Financial Services Authority and Fermanagh’s ‘Frugal Frankie’, aka Dominic Burns
Chris Pond, Director, Financial Capability, FSA added: “We are delighted to have an involvement through our funding for the Consumer Council to lead the Partnership, which has strengthened links both in the community and within financial capability work, and has taken forward important initiatives that benefit the people and communities of Northern Ireland. By working with the Partnership we are striving to ensure that we reach all sections of the Northern Irish community from new parents through school, university, work and beyond. Our National Strategy for Financial Capability aims to give people skills, knowledge and confidence in money matters and improve their ability to make sound financial decisions. Recent FSA research has shown us the link between financial well-being and psychological health. If people feel in control of their money they feel better in themselves and can handle the challenges life throws at them. Money Week is a great opportunity for people across Fermanagh to get involved and help us raise the level of financial capability across Northern Ireland.”
Also in attendance at the launch was Fermanagh’s ‘Frugal Frankie’, aka Dominic Burns, winner of the Partnership’s ‘Savvy Susie/Frugal Frankie’ competition to find a local person who has managing money down to a fine art.
Said Dominic: “I have always been good with money. For instance, I buy my bus travel weekly on Ulsterbus Smartlink cards and I save about £500 a year doing that. I buy gym membership monthly for £30 instead of going 12 times at £4.50, so I save £30/£40 a month on that too. I also buy supermarket own brand products and that makes a big difference, and the quality is just as good. My motto is bulk buy where you can to make savings, as long as you’re buying things you’ll need and use of course!”
The full schedule of Money Week events is available to download at www.consumercouncil.org.uk/money-week/or by contacting the Consumer Council on 028 9067 2488.
Notes to editor
The Consumer Council leads the Financial Capability Partnership NI which brings together government, banks, building societies, credit unions, the education and community sectors to ensure that we all help consumers to manage their money and make it work best for them. The Partnership is funded as part of the National Strategy for Financial Capability led by the Financial Services Authority.
- Consumer Council media contact: Keelin Kelly, telephone, 028 9067 4807 or e-mail, kkelly@consumercouncil.org.uk
- The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
- For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk
