From survival to stability: How partnerships are strengthening UK financial confidence

Evidence tier: A1 Evidence type: Auto-discovered official publication Source: Barclays browser-verified publication index Official publication date: 2026-07-08 Captured: 2026-07-18T16:32:06.575Z

Over more than six years of working together, Barclays and Family Action have helped thousands of people build confidence, develop skills and access practical financial support, creating the headspace needed to focus on a path towards employment.

Bringing together expertise, trust and hands-on help is what enables people not just to cope, but to move forward.

The impact is clear: 100% of participants attending three or more LifeSkills sessions report that they had improved financial literacy, while 67% say they have moved closer to employment, training or volunteering.

Recent delivery underlines that momentum. In Q1 alone, the partnership delivered 50 LifeSkills sessions, reaching 486 adults and 31 children across 19 community settings, combining scale with local, community-rooted support. Alongside this, our more intensive one-to-one offer is supporting those facing the greatest barriers: 71% of accepted referrals are unemployed, with 27% already moving into volunteering, training or work.

Improving financial confidence across the UK is not something any single organisation can achieve alone.

It requires collaboration between businesses, charities and communities, alongside sustained commitment and practical solutions.

It means meeting people where they are, recognising the pressures they face, and giving them the tools and confidence to take the next step.

Encouragingly, the benefits extend beyond individuals: 93% of participants say the sessions will have an impact on their family, with nearly half (47%) expecting that impact to be significant.