The Money for Life Challenge England 2014/15

What is the Money for Life Challenge? The Money for Life Challenge is a national competition to find the most successful and innovative ways that you can improve your money management skills and those of your friends, families and communities. More than ever, being good at managing your money is one of the most important skills that you’ll learn. So, whether you’re earning it, saving it or borrowing it, it helps to have some inside knowledge so you can make the best choices – right now and for your future.

How does it work? You and your team apply for one of 150 England grants to run a money management activity in your community. Once approved, we’ll send you £200 to spend on bringing your project to life. Once you’ve submitted your project summary at the end of the Challenge, we’ll send a further £300 to cover the costs incurred by your organisation.

What’s in it for you? Once all the project submissions are in, the top projects in each nation are shortlisted and the top five compete for the national title, and all teams compete for the national People’s Prize. Previous England Final venues include Wembley Stadium, Tower of London and London Zoo. The national final winners will win a donation to charity and shopping vouchers.

UK Grand Final Representatives from the national winning team and the People’s Prize team also win an all expenses paid trip to London to attend the UK Grand Final where they will have the opportunity to win a further donation to the charity of their choice, as well as a Lloyds Banking Group mentor and more shopping vouchers. Last year’s UK Final was at the O2.

O2s&list=UU4siw0XFdj_mHbQ_EcgUeOw O2s&list=UU4siw0XFdj_mHbQ_EcgUeOw

What next? To take part in the Money for Life Challenge, first off you need to get a team together and find your project sponsor. Your team can be made up of between three and ten 16 to 24 year old learners from your organisation – and your organisation can enter up to five teams in total. Your project sponsor can be any adult employed to work with young people at your learning organisation. Visit the Money for Life Challenge website at where you can register your team and start your application.

Your first step is to submit your idea online before the 21st November. The website has everything you need to help you.

Get inspired Your project can address any aspect of money management you like, as long as you can show how it helps the group in your community you’ve chosen to support. Last year’s teams tackled all sorts of issues, including a short film about debt, a radio countdown show of top money tips, a photography exhibition about the rich/ poor divide, an awareness campaign about the local credit union, and a Christmas fair showing people how to make food/ decorations/ presents on a budget. All of the finalists were successful because they had an original idea that was based on their experiences and the needs of their community. Look around you for inspiration.

Get Thinking! Now let’s consider some topics which you can use for inspiration. Shop ‘til you drop Got green fingers? Team up with others Preparing for life’s little shocks … Bargain hunter Planning ahead Strike a pose Becoming a money whizz kid

Get Thinking! Now start thinking about your community. Who makes up your community? What issues are there surrounding money for these people? Could you help them with a money management project?

Application tips and help Be clear and specific with what you are planning to do Answer all the questions Be creative with the media you use (e.g. radio, video, photography, phone app) Pick a money topic (e.g. rise of cashless spending, dangers of gambling, holding a party on a budget) that matters to you and others If you can do a project that involves reaching others outside your own organisation other than your own this will help you stand out Get someone to check through your application Get your application on the system early so you can get feedback on it Contact Ben or Kesia at the National Skills Academy for Financial Services on for help with your application Good luck!