Barclays and YouthNet announce new partnership

YouthNet has teamed up with Barclays Money Skills, the bank's new community investment programme in the UK, in response to a sharp increase in the number of unique users accessing the money section of YouthNet's guide to life website for 16 to 25-year-olds, TheSite.org#.

Barclays Money Skills is providing funding of more than £60,000 to future-proof the advice the money section currently offers, aiming to reflect young people's needs in a financial landscape that changed dramatically during 2009.

Fiona Dawe, Chief Executive of YouthNet, says: "It is vital that young people can find reliable financial information online, and with the economic backdrop changing so rapidly, we need to ensure that the financial issues facing young people today are catered for on TheSite.org.

"It's fantastic that Barclays Money Skills has recognised the pressing nature to respond to young people's financial concerns, and worries related to money, and that we can work together to arm young people with the most up-to-date facts to make informed choices."

All of the improvements will be developed in consultation with young people through user groups and TheSite.org's discussion boards, and financial journalists will incorporate the most up-to-date research findings into the new articles.

Michelle Smith, Barclays Head of Consumer and Community Affairs, added: "Our funding in the community is now focused on creating a more financially inclusive society through education and financial awareness, predominantly amongst young people, which is particularly important in today's economic climate.

"Through our partnership with YouthNet, we aim to empower more than 100,000 young individuals in building a better and more secure financial future." 

TheSite.org provides straight-talking, anonymous information and advice 24 hours a day and already features over 200 articles on finance and money issues covering everything from credit and debt to benefits and tax, alongside hundreds of others on subjects including work and study, drink and drugs, and relationships. Its bespoke question and answer service, askTheSite, provides young people with a confidential, personal answer to any question within three working days, with money-related questions answered by partner organisation Citizens Advice Bureau.

# Over the past year, the money section has hosted almost a quarter more unique users - from 11,002 in December 2008 to 13,273 in December 2009 (a 21% difference of 2,271).

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Media Enquiries:
For further media information – or to arrange interviews – please contact Gabriella Jozwiak or Sarah Wilson at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716 or out-of-hours on 07766 660 755.  Email media@youthnet.org

Notes to editors

1. The new content is scheduled to go live on TheSite.org in February 2010
2. The number of unique users on TheSite.org's money section was 11,002 in December 2008 compared to 13,273 in December 2009 – a rise of 2,271
3. YouthNet is the UK's first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in 1995.  It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams, and does this through two award winning websites, do-it.org.uk and the online guide to life for 16 to 24-year-olds, TheSite.org
4. Barclays Money Skills is the bank's new Community Investment programme in the UK aiming to improve people's financial capability. Barclays Money Skills helps individuals develop their confidence and ability to manage money which includes budgeting, making informed financial choices and knowing where to get help. The programme also offers Barclays employees the opportunity to volunteer and share their business knowledge with young people, in getting to grips with the importance of understanding and managing money in both a practical and fun way.
5. Run by young people's charity YouthNet, TheSite.org is the online guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds.  With over 2,000 articles written by experts and journalists, a series of blogs, podcasts and videos, a bespoke question and answer service – askTheSite, and a thriving online community, TheSite.org is the central place for young people to turn to for sound, straight talking, anonymous advice 24-hours-a-day
6. Every month, TheSite.org is visited by over 500,000 unique users, and receives around 800 questions on issues ranging from relationships to advice on housing. Content on TheSite.org is also available on mobile, at TheSite.org/mobile
7. Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) are independent registered charities providing free, independent, impartial and confidential advice to anyone who needs it, on a whole range of issues.