EFD homepage > media centre > media releases > media release

Friday 25 October 2002

Unique consumer guide picks up national award

'It's Your Money' has won the National Information Forum 'Getting the Message Across' award, recognising innovation in providing information to disabled and disadvantaged people. More than 30,000 copies of this pioneering guide, which is helping people with learning difficulties to use banks and financial services, have been distributed since its launch in May this year.

On accepting the award at the House of Lords, Ed Mylles, the Forum's publishing manager, said: 'With generous support from Barclays and expert advice from People First, the Forum has developed a guide not only for the million-plus people with learning difficulties in the UK, but also for people who dislike complex documents or have English as a second language.'

Including a foreword by Coronations Street's Roy Cropper (actor David Neilson), the easy-to-read and colourful guide introduces the basics of managing money day-to-day - from understanding your first pay cheque to using ATMs.

Barclays is funding distribution of 200,000 free copies to customers, citizens' advice bureaux, schools, advocacy groups and the prison service.

Barclays Consumer and Community Affairs Director, Martin Mosley, who also attended the Award ceremony, said: 'This booklet will be of great benefit to those people who have so far found banks and other financial institutions difficult to access.'

“Many people are confused about banks,” said The Rt Hon Lord Ashley of Stoke who launched the guide nationally in May. “This guide does a first rate job at explaining banking to people with language, literacy and learning difficulties.”

For free copies of It's Your Money, call the publications department at Employers' Forum on Disability on (020) 7403 3020

Ends

Media contact:

Press Office
Employers' Forum on Disability
Telephone: (020) 7089 3020
Email: media@employers-forum.co.uk