YSS – Skills4Life programme

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new two year service, Skills4Life, aimed at women aged 18 years and over to help them build their financial and employability skills.

The service is funded by the Smallwood Trust and will be delivered by YSS throughout West Mercia: in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

A fifth of women – around 5.1 million – live in poverty in the UK, compared to 4.4 million men. As women are often the sole carer for families, their financial resilience greatly impacts on children.

Skills4Life will support women to become more financially independent and resilient. YSS will provide women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their money effectively; this will include providing training around finances, along with resources to support the learning and personal financial advice.

Debb Grantham, YSS Director, said: “We’re delighted to launch this new service particularly at this time, when we’re already seeing women being hit hardest by the impact of Coronavirus. Skills4Life complements our Chrysalis women’s service, which is empowering women in the Criminal Justice System and their families, to overcome disadvantage and poverty. ”

YSS is seeking volunteers to get involved with the Skills4Life project; there are opportunities to volunteer as a MoneyMentor or a Community Worker. We recruit volunteers from all walks of life, we do not expect them to have any specific education or formal qualifications; however, they must be aged 18+.