Bridges Financial Services has today announced a two-year $300,000 partnership with children’s education charity, The Smith Family.
As a national community partner, Bridges Financial Services will support The Smith Family to equip 4,000 disadvantaged students with essential money management skills through the organisation’s Certificate 1 in Financial Services program.
The Smith Family developed the financial education program to help high school students learn about budgeting, debt, consumer credit and the benefits of superannuation.
The students The Smith Family supports are all living in low-income families so supporting these students to build their financial capability helps them plan for a more positive financial future.
The program runs over five weekly sessions and is delivered by an accredited trainer. On completion of all sessions and following an assessment, students gain the qualification of Certificate 1 in Financial Services.
In the last year, 81 per cent of program participants successfully attained the Certificate 1 qualification. Three months after completing the program, 79 per cent of students used a savings plan more often.
Speaking about the launch of the new partnership, Nathan Stanton, CEO of Bridges Financial Services, commented, “Our involvement in The Smith Family’s financial program aligns perfectly with our business because we exist to help people make sound financial decisions.
“The opportunity to help financially disadvantaged students in the community build these skills is a cause we are extremely passionate about and something that our financial planners have always wanted to be involved in.
“We are looking forward to seeing the positive difference this partnership can make to the community. In addition, our network of financial planners are looking forward to actively supporting the community as volunteer mentors for iTrack, The Smith Family’s online mentoring program.”
The Smith Family’s CEO, Dr Lisa O’Brien concluded, “Supporting disadvantaged students to make informed financial decisions will help them to plan and achieve their financial goals.
“Thanks to our partnership with Bridges Financial Services, thousands more disadvantaged students will have the opportunity to build their confidence and gain positive money management skills, through our Certificate 1 in Financial Services program.”
