MHA helps with financial literacy programme

A £3,500 donation from national accountancy and advisory firm MHA has helped improve the financial literacy of young people in Lancaster.

The funding, awarded to Marsh Community Centre through the MHA 1892 Foundation, supported a six-week project designed to encourage participants to think about money through the lens of future careers.

The grant is one of five made so far this year by the foundation to charities and organisations across the North, totalling £17,500 and aimed at improving financial literacy among young people.

The MHA 1892 Foundation was launched by MHA in 2023 as a pilot in the North West and, following its success, was rolled out nationally in 2025.

Marsh Community Centre supports people with issues related to benefits and housing, provides employment and debt advice, access to computers and a range of other support. It also runs activity sessions and programmes for both adults and young people.

The project ran during March and April and involved 11 young people, helping them develop skills including budgeting, saving, teamwork and enterprise.

Deborah Hargreaves, chief executive of Marsh Community Centre, said: “We are incredibly grateful for MHA’s grant funding to support our Young Apprentice Project, which helped young people develop essential life skills such as budgeting, saving, teamwork and enterprise.

“The feedback from those who took part was that they learned a huge amount from the sessions.

“By involving young people in real projects where they can plan, manage and understand money, we are not only building their confidence but also giving them tools that will benefit them long into adulthood.”

Rachel Marsdin, partner at MHA’s Lancaster office, said: “Making financial education accessible for every young person is vital to shaping a brighter future.

“It’s a positive step that the government has recognised this through much-needed changes to the national curriculum, but this will only begin in 2028. A broader range of solutions is needed and sooner.”

The MHA 1892 Foundation takes its name from the year MHA’s predecessor in the North West, MHA Moore and Smalley, was founded. Funds are generated through charitable initiatives by MHA staff, supplemented by match funding from the firm’s partners.