Money and Pensions Service

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is an arm’s-length body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, established at the beginning of 2019. Our vision is: ‘Everyone making the most of their money and pensions’. Working collaboratively across the UK, we help people – particularly those most in need – to improve their financial wellbeing and build a better, more confident future. We launched our UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing in 2020, and this includes a national goal of supporting two million more children and young people to receive a meaningful financial education. Since launching the strategy, MaPS has worked with hundreds of partners from across government, industry, and the third sector to coordinate delivery plans for each of the UK nations, which make practical recommendations on how organisations can support this national goal.

Our ‘Improving Financial Wellbeing through Teacher and Practitioner Training and Targeted Provision’ Grant Programme

In March 2023, we launched our ‘Improving Financial Wellbeing through Teacher and Practitioner Training and Targeted Provision’ programme. Working with a range of expert partners, we are funding seven projects to find out what works in two priority areas:

1. Expanding and embedding teacher training
2. Developing provision for children and young people in vulnerable circumstances

By providing potential models for scaling up delivery in schools and in the community, the findings from this programme will be used to inform policymakers, financial education providers, and funders. The findings will be disseminated in 2024.

Find out more about the programme on the MaPS website.

Talk Learn Do Digital

We have developed a bite-sized, fun, and engaging digital version of Talk Learn Do (TLD), our flagship financial capability intervention to encourage parents/carers of 3‑11‑year‑olds to talk to their children about money. These cover topics including digital money, pester power, scams, and pocket money. Activities are short and engaging for parents and carers to access individually or as part of a group. Check these out on the MoneyHelper website.

TLD has already supported over 2,000 parents across the UK to teach their children about money. You can read our evaluations of TLD on the MaPS website.

Upcoming research reports

Look out for our reports from our 2022 Children and Young People Financial Wellbeing Survey, the final version of the questionnaire to measure the financial capability of four- to six-year-olds, and our evidence review of what works in building children and young people’s financial capability. These will be published in the coming months. Follow us on Twitter at @MoneyPensionsUK or LinkedIn to ensure you know when these come out.

MaPS is an affiliate member of the What Works network, and we grow and share evidence and insights into need, provision, and impact. You can find all our research reports on the MaPS website.

Talk Money Week 2023

Planning is already underway for Talk Money Week 2023, the annual campaign to get everyone to talk about money. This year, it’ll take place between 6 – 10 November. Please put Talk Money Week 2023 in your diaries and get in touch with any ideas for how we can work together to make it an even bigger success this year.

In the meantime, check out our Talk Money Week Toolkit for Schools, which supports schools to get involved with Talk Money Week.

Find out more about Talk Money Week on the MaPS website.

Want to find out more MaPS’ work to improve financial education for children and young people? Keep up to date by following MaPS on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube), sign up for our monthly newsletter, or get in touch by emailing cyp@maps.org.uk.

Money and Pensions Service