Year six children at Crumpsall Lane Primary School can now proudly say they’re smart with money – thanks to a visit from Manchester Credit Union’s school roadshow.
Working with creative education partner Altru, Manchester Credit Union delivered a day-long interactive drama experience called “Bee Smart with Money” to boost children’s financial literacy and confidence in managing money.
Rapunzel, the Three Little Pigs, Thumbelina and an unscrupulous loan shark were just some of the characters the children brought to life in their production, Fairytale Money Troubles. Throughout the day, pupils explored the importance of talking about money, choosing responsible lenders, and saving for a rainy day, before performing their show to the school and proud parents.
Manchester Credit Union – a financial co-operative that has supported Greater Manchester’s savers and borrowers for more than 30 years – launched the Bee Smart with Money roadshow in 2024 to give back to the communities it serves. So far, the initiative has reached hundreds of children across Greater Manchester as part of its mission to create a region of savvy savers.
Mandy Wilcock, CEO of Manchester Credit Union, said: “Children’s relationships with money start early, as young as seven, so it’s vital we give them the tools and confidence to build positive, healthy habits early on. Bee Smart with Money is all about making financial education fun, engaging and memorable – because when learning feels exciting, it sticks.
“The children at Crumpsall Lane Primary were bright, engaged and full of enthusiasm. They really understood the message behind the play, and we’re confident they’ll take what they’ve learned with them as they grow.”
Sarah-Kaye Cloherty, Key Stage 2 Phase Leader at Crumpsall Lane Primary School, said: “Our year six students threw themselves into the project and delivered a fantastic production that wowed the audience. Financial literacy is such an important life skill, and it was brilliant to see them learning how to make smart money choices in such a fun way.”
Mandy added: “We’re deeply invested in helping the communities we serve – not just through our financial services, but by supporting the next generation. Programmes like this make financial education accessible to all, and we hope to bring Bee Smart with Money to even more schools across Greater Manchester each year.”
Schools interested in taking part should email info@manchestercreditunion.co.uk to find out more.
Manchester Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation that exists solely for the benefit of its members in Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and High Peak. Any profit generated is returned as a dividend on savings or used to improve member services.