Best New Pro Bono Activity - 2010

Commended - University of Exeter, Debt Literacy Project

“This project has been an innovative way of increasing school pupils’ knowledge at both primary and secondary level of the issues surrounding debt.”

The University of Exeter’s Debt Literacy scheme focuses on reducing debt, helping to empower individuals, increasing awareness of what school pupils can do to manage debt and giving them the tools to do so.

A group of 19 law students are trained in debt and financial capability issues by the CAB and two local law firms and operate focused projects in each school in Exeter within the academic year. The students work with year 10 pupils giving presentations and also practical workshops on the need to balance budgets and the consequences of debt. Law students benefit by developing communication skills and also increasing their own awareness of debt issues. Exeter Law School has established strong links with diverse members of the local community for this project and it is now sustainable, requiring low levels of funding. An Exeter school has helped by embedding it into their curriculum through assessed coursework based on delivering debt literacy to local primary schools.