For CSV Make a Difference Day 2007, Barclaycard US colleagues in Wilmington, Delaware hosted 820 local school children to teach them about money and savings over two weeks. 

Almost all of the children who took part are culturally, socially and economically at risk.  85% live at or below the poverty level and 65% are in single parent families or with a drug or alcohol-dependent parent.  Teaching them about how to manage is an important way to support their future prosperity.

Each student met one-on-one with a Barclaycard colleague, read a book about the importance of saving money, received a piggy bank and $1 worth of coins to begin their savings.  They then visited a department for an interactive presentation, which included a market place where students could practice what they’d learned about budgets and a game teaching the importance of only borrowing money that they could afford to repay.

The event received overwhelming praise from the community.  Principals and board members from each school came to see the event in action.  Barclaycard colleagues also received calls from other schools within the local area wanting to take part next year. 

In total, Barclaycard colleagues volunteered 1,250 hours over eight working days.  As a result eight colleagues who took part have now signed up for the weekly mentoring programme.  One employee said, “The opportunity to work one on one with a child and to see the impact was very powerful.”

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