Showcase Partners

For National Student Money Week (NSMW) 2012 we invited NASMA members and Money Doctors to submit proposals to work with us as Showcase Partners, highlighting activities they were organising for during the week.

We received some excellent proposals, showing a wide range of plans for engaging students in financial capability activity during the week and beyond.

The following institutions featured as our NSMW Showcase Partners in 2012:

• University of Birmingham
• Cardiff University
• University of East London
• Leeds Metropolitan University

Below are details about what each of these institutions has planned for NSMW.

University of Birmingham

During National Student Money Week the Student Funding Office will aim to reach a wide student audience to highlight the fact that saving money can be relatively simple and does not always mean ‘going without’. These events are not just aimed at those students who are struggling for money or in financial hardship, but as a way of encouraging all students to adopt a financially savvy lifestyle, now and in the future! 

This will include:

Monday 12 March

• The ever popular ‘Taste Test’ in the reception area of the Muirhead Tower where we will be challenging students to buy economy items instead of branded by showing them how small changes can affect their budget.
• Live web chats with our funding advisors between 9 till 11am, 12 till 2pm and 4 till 6pm

Wednesday 14 March

• Financial capability workshop ‘Keeping track of your finances’ at 3pm (for one hour) in Nuffield building G18.
• A cooking demonstration of a ‘value and easy’ chilli (meat and vegetarian options) in the reception area of Shackleton halls of residence from 6 till 7.00pm as well as collectable student recipe cards for students with ideas on how to be a savvy food shopper.  There will be an opportunity to ask Pedro the chef questions and our funding advisors will also be on hand.

Throughout the week

• Live appearances from our money saving mascot ‘Savvy the Squirrel’ encouraging students to follow him on Twitter @UBsavvysquirrel
• The opportunity for students to submit their own money saving ideas into our ‘Wonga Wok’ to be in with a chance of winning the wok itself and a £25 gift voucher.

For more details visit www.birmingham.ac.uk/nsmw

Cardiff University

The team have a range of activities planned, including:

Monday 12th March - Money Facts and Student Funding

• A Money Doctors stand in the Student Union promoting to continuing students to re-apply for funding. We will have wallet-sized leaflets to give away with the web addresses to apply for funding online and top tips for applying. We will have internet access to be able to demonstrate how to apply online at SFE (SFW applications will be available from 21st March).

Tuesday 13th March - Making Your Money Stretch Further

• A Money Doctors stand in the Student Union promoting budgeting and managing your money. We will be running a Taste Test and will have leaflets on recipe ideas on a budget. We will ask students to put their top money saving tips on a 'Top Tip Wall' and share these on our website after the event.

Thursday 15th March - Housing and Energy Saving

• A Money Doctors stand in the Student Union promoting Housing information; how to find accommodation and top tips on financial aspects of renting. We will be giving away energy saving lightbulbs and top tips on energy saving.
• An evening workshop at The Student Support Centre - 'We Can Save You £127' - APR, RPI, INFLATION, INTEREST RATES, HP, SLC.  Confused?? Come along to this short workshop on financial myth busting, maximising money and money saving tips.  In 90 minutes get the skills to make informed financial decisions for life. Students can sign up throughout the week at the Money Doctor stands, or just turn up on the day.

Friday 16th March - Graduation

• A lunch time interactive talk about graduating and what happens after University covering information on repaying student loans, overdrafts, graduate accounts, postgraduate funding, debts, benefits, tax and national insurance. Students can sign up throughout the week at the Money Doctor stands, or just turn up on the day.

Throughout the week

• General student funding information will be available at the stands
• Advertising 'We Can Save you £127' and our Graduate Talk

University of East London

Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are holding a series of events to help students manage their money. Events include:

• Information stalls on various aspects of finance and budgeting
• Food tasting
• Finance Physio
• Sumo debt wrestling
• The Health and Wellbeing Team will be promoting healthy eating on a budget
• Chance to win the contents of a hamper and other prizes
• Top money-saving tips
• Film night

Leeds Metropolitan University

We plan to try some new ideas along with tried and tested activities including more some workshops this year. We will launch the week with activities in our Rose Bowl Lobby on 12^th March and run other events throughout the week across campus. You can read our review from 2011 here. Some of the activities we aim to offer in 2012 include:

• Food Taste Test
• Shopping Basket Game
• Share a Money Tip
• Money Quiz
• Accommodation workshop in the halls of residence using the talents of a residency officer to support us.
• 2012 applicant workshop to assist them with their online funding applications.
• “Feeling the Squeeze” activity where we will use stress toys as a gift but also as a way of visual voting system about what money stresses are concerning our students.
• Bento boxes - a display to encourage packing lunches

We hope to employ some student ambassadors to help us and again enlist the help of enthusiastic colleagues.