Post by M&G

Helping young people feel confident about money can be a turning point. It is often the first step towards long‑term financial security.   That matters because confidence remains worryingly low. In recent M&G research, conducted for our Reframing Retirement campaign, only 21% of 16 to 18‑year‑olds said they feel very confident about their knowledge of money. Nearly half, 44%, said they have no understanding of pensions, ISAs or savings at all.   We recently spent time with Janet Daby MP at a Skills for Life session delivered in partnership with The Talent Foundry, hearing directly from students about their ambitions and concerns. Many are already thinking ahead, with 50% saying they want to start investing within the next five years, even if they do not yet feel fully equipped to do so.   Each year, The Talent Foundry supports more than 60,000 young people across 1,900 schools. Almost half of 16 to 18‑year‑olds believe the fundamentals of personal finance should be taught by their schoolteachers, making programmes like these more important than ever.   Through our partnership, M&G programmes have reached more than 20,000 students since 2013. Led by Jane Rawnsley, our Head of Corporate Responsibility, this work focuses on turning uncertainty into practical confidence.   Skills for Life gives students real‑world financial knowledge and life skills, from budgeting and understanding money to communication and career planning. The sessions are interactive and grounded in everyday choices, helping young people connect financial confidence with future opportunity.   Thank you to the students, teachers and facilitators who made the day such a success, and to Janet for spending time with us and listening to young people share their hopes for the future.