Young Citizens Advice Somerset

Advice and money matters

For people aged 16-24

The history of our work with young people

In 2021 we upskilled advisers to ensure they understood the options and support available for young people.

In 2022 we commenced a research and engagement project.

Our aim was to improve links with young
people – find out what matters to them – and raise awareness with organisations
supporting young people about what we do and how.

We joined Somerset Big Tent and
engaged with a real mix of 16–24
year-olds across Somerset to ask about their advice needs and get their input.

We also produced a regular newsletter,
delivered insight training and attended events.

In 2023 we added to the work described above by introducing advice resources focusing on the issues that young people told us they were worried about. You can find these below.

In 2024 we received funding for one year to produce a Money Matters library of teaching resources and deliver Advice First Aid to youth workers across Somerset. 

This ensures that trusted people in a young person’s life can help them in effective ways.

Since Covid, young people have experienced an increase in mental health difficulties and poorer wellbeing outcomes.

At Citizens Advice Somerset we know that issues with money, housing, work and other things have a knock-on effect for health and wellbeing.

But we also know that under 25’s are less likely to turn to us for advice when they need it – we want to bridge the gap.

 

With input from young people and youth organisations we had an ambitious plan to roll out ‘Advice Fist Aid’ across Somerset,  alongside the delivery of ‘Money Matters’ sessions.

We took an iterative approach so we could adapt and improve over the year.

Advice First Aid

We delivered Advice First Aid to 15 youth organisations, training 45 advice first aiders across Somerset.

Advice First Aid provides all the tools to enable youth workers to:

  • gather information and spot an advice issue
  • identify appropriate online tools and information resources
  • provide information and signposting support to empower young people to self-help
  • spot when a young person needs advice and how to refer.

Money Matters

We researched what money management learning was available and put together a suite of budgeting and money matters workshop sessions – these can be delivered by youth groups to individuals or groups of young people across Somerset.

These cover essential topics and at a variety of different age levels.

We delivered two courses to get the ball rolling and ensure the content was appropriate.  

We also collated a selection of free, online financial capability for ages up to 16.

The history of our work for young people



In 2021 we upskilled advisers to ensure they understood the options and support available for young people.


In 2022 we commenced a research and engagement
project.


Our aim was to improve links with young
people – find out what matters to them – and raise awareness with organisations
supporting young people about what we do and how.


We joined Somerset Big Tent and
engaged with a real mix of 16–24
year-olds across Somerset to ask about their advice needs and get their input.


We also produced a regular newsletter,
delivered insight training and attended events.


In 2023 we added to the work described above by introducing advice resources focusing on the issues that young people told us they were worried about. You can find these below. 

Since Covid, young people have experienced an increase of mental health difficulties and poorer wellbeing outcomes.

 

At Citizens Advice Somerset we know that issues with money, housing, work and other things have a knock-on effect for health and wellbeing.

 

 

But we also know that they are less likely to turn to us for advice when they need it – we want to bridge the gap.

So, what’s the plan for 2024 to 2025?

With input from young people and youth organisations we have an ambitious plan to roll out ‘Advice Fist Aid’ across Somerset,  alongside the delivery of ‘Money Matters’ sessions. We are taking an iterative approach so we can adapt and improve over the year.

Advice First Aid

We will be giving writing and delivering Advice First Aid to youth workers in Somerset.

 

Advice First Aid training provides all the tools to enable people in non-advice roles to:

•Gather information and spot an advice issue
•Awareness of online tools and information resources
•Provide information and signposting support
•Identify when a young person needs advice and how to access it.

Money Matters

We will be devising and delivering budgeting and money management sessions to young people across Somerset.

 

We’ll also be creating delivery packs to support youth workers to provide a range of 1:1, coaching, group and sessional support for youth groups across the county.

 

 

We will share the money matters resources on this webpage for wider use.

Training feedback

“This training was really fun and engaging and was. delivered well. It was a great opportunity to collaborate and learn collectively alongside others.”

Nick Harvey, in The Mix

What we achieved...

Our 2024-25 funding enabled us to work directly in the community with youth groups supporting more than 3,500 young people in Somerset. 

Resources Library

These resources are available to anyone who might find them useful. If you’re looking for a specific advice topic and it isn’t below, take a look at www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Advice Topics

 Useful advice factsheets for young people

Money Matters

Ages 16-24

Banking:

Budgeting:

Saving:

Credit:

Other money matters:

Money Matters learning for children

We have reviewed a variety of online resources and put together our top list of financial capability learning resources and options for under 16’s

Our Impact

 

Impact report 2024-25 – putting our learning into action.

Impact report 2022-24 – See the impact we made between April 2022 and March 2024 and what we learned!

 

Skip to content