More than 230 St Helens children received free financial lessons

The lessons were provided by Yorkshire Building Society as part of their mission to ensure all UK children receive formal financial education.

The building society believes that early financial education can enhance long-term financial well-being.

However, the current state of financial education varies across the UK.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, financial capability or financial education is part of the primary school curriculum.

In contrast, in England, financial education is only included in the national curriculum for secondary school children.

Yorkshire Building Society's research shows that less than half (42 per cent) of 16 to 27-year-olds remember receiving any financial education in secondary school, despite it being on the national curriculum since 2014.

To help bridge this gap, the building society delivered face-to-face financial education sessions in classrooms across the country through its flagship Money Minds programme.

The programme sees the society's colleagues volunteer their time to teach children and young people of all ages and abilities about money.

Chris Irwin, director of savings at Yorkshire Building Society, said: "Helping people with their financial wellbeing is at the heart of our purpose as a building society.

"We know that people who engage in positive financial behaviours such as saving are generally less anxious about money, and have greater life satisfaction overall.

"We also know that delivery of financial education across the UK is inconsistent, and that is why our colleagues have been out to schools and youth organisations to deliver financial education lessons to thousands of children and young people in the last year – including over 230 in the St Helens area."

Yorkshire Building Society has submitted recommendations to the government's Curriculum and Assessment Review to improve the provision and depth of financial education for all pupils across the UK.

Since the launch of Money Minds in 2015, more than 70,000 children and young people in the UK have 'benefitted from a lesson.'

For parents, teachers, and 11 to 19-year-olds, the Money Minds online platform offers free resources covering a variety of financial topics.