Home Affairs Correspondent
The Lady Fatemah Charitable Trust is seeking match-funding pledges for a programme aimed at improving financial literacy among schoolchildren growing up in poverty in London, amid warnings that young people are increasingly vulnerable to scams, unsafe borrowing and long-term debt.
The Trust must secure pledges by March 13 to unlock match funding through The Big Give, a UK-based philanthropic platform that doubles donations during time-limited campaigns. Under the scheme, every £1 pledged will be matched £1 for £1 during a fundraising drive scheduled for June next year.
The campaign, titled Financial Skills for Children in High-Need Schools, targets pupils aged 11 to 16 in some of London’s most deprived areas. It focuses on practical financial safeguarding, including recognising scams, avoiding high-risk borrowing and making everyday money decisions, delivered through classroom simulations and teacher training.
The Lady Fatemah Charitable Trust, a UK-registered charity working in education, poverty alleviation and humanitarian relief, said many children facing financial hardship leave school without basic money skills, leaving them exposed to exploitation and long-term financial stress.
According to the Trust, full funding would allow the programme to reach around 10,000 pupils across 20 schools, at a cost of approximately £3 per child. The charity said the intervention is designed not only to support young people, but also to encourage healthier conversations about money within households and strengthen long-term financial resilience.
Under the terms of The Big Give’s match-funding model, pledgers commit funds that are paid after the campaign concludes in mid-June 2026. Those providing match funding are not permitted to donate during the live campaign period, as their pledge is used to double public contributions.
The Trust has set a pledge target of £7,500, which would unlock an equivalent amount in match funding. Pledges can be made by individuals or organisations via The Big Give’s online platform.
Campaign organisers said the programme forms part of a broader effort to address child poverty through early intervention, with a focus on prevention rather than crisis response.
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