Welsh Government
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Welsh Government and Barclaycard join forces to improve money and life skills of Welsh schoolchildren
Barclaycard was recently awarded a 10-year concession contract by the Welsh Government to provide ePayments (purchase card) services to the Welsh public sector. Over 100 organisations currently use card services to pay for low-value, low-risk goods and services.
As part of the contract, Barclaycard will deliver a number of Community Benefits initiatives across Wales.
These include:
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The MoneySkills initiative: which aims to improve the financial capabilities of young people, giving them the confidence to manage their money effectively;
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The ‘LifeSkills’ initiative: this provides young people with the skills and opportunities they need to support them as they transition from school to work;
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‘Spaces for Sports’: a community-based programme which uses sport as a platform to help young people develop life skills.
Applying Community Benefits to public procurement through the inclusion of social clauses is a key requirement of the Wales Procurement Policy Statement, issued by the Finance Minister in December 2012, and widely adopted across the Welsh public sector.
To mark the transition to the new contract, the Minister visited a Barclaycard-run event at the Gôl centre in Cardiff to see for herself how the Community Benefits initiatives provided by the company are benefiting local school children.
At Gôl, the Minister saw Sixth Form and year 9 children from Fitzalan High School take part in C.V. writing and interview techniques workshops, a money quiz and a five-a-side football challenge.
Speaking during the visit, the Finance Minister, Jane Hutt said:
"It’s absolutely vital that every pound spent by the public sector in Wales results in maximum value for the people of Wales.
"The activities showcased at the Gôl centre today show how good procurement can generate local benefits and have a positive impact on our communities.
"The young people I met today will benefit from a greater understanding of personal finance and learn key skills to support them as they move into the job market."
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