"Managing money, understanding bills and knowing your rights are the building blocks of an independent life."
- Jon Sparkes OBE - Mencap
The Aviva Foundation has launched a new financial confidence programme, in partnership with learning disability charity Mencap, designed to support people with a learning disability to better understand financial choices, budgeting, bills, benefits, and their rights.
Mencap is currently rolling out financial confidence workshops across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Aviva says that the partnership aims to equip participants with practical skills to improve financial confidence and help them feel more in control of their finances and future.
The key topics of the workshops include managing a budget, understanding income and benefits, financial planning and making informed spending decisions, as well as participants’ financial rights and where they can access help and support when needed.
In addition, the programme aims to help individuals increase their digital skills and confidence.
Aviva says that the language, content and delivery of the workshops have been shaped by people with lived experience of a learning disability, and alongside the face-to-face workshops, learning resources will be embedded within Mencap's staff training platforms.
The initiative will also provide training for participants' wider support networks.
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"Managing money, understanding bills and knowing your rights are the building blocks of an independent life," Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive of Mencap, said. "Yet too often people with a learning disability are shut out by a system that wasn’t designed with them in mind.
"This programme, made possible by our partnership with the Aviva Foundation, will give people with a learning disability and their families the knowledge, skills and confidence to take control of their own finances and future. We’re proud to be building our partnership with the Aviva Foundation to reach people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to make a real, practical difference to so many lives."
Alex Christopoulos, Aviva Foundation lead, added: "Everyone deserves opportunity to feel confident managing their money and to make informed financial decisions. Yet too many people with a learning disability face barriers that can limit their independence and financial wellbeing.
"By partnering with Mencap, we can help combine practical financial education with deep expertise in supporting people with a learning disability, helping more people build the confidence, knowledge and skills to take greater control of their financial futures."
