Barclays LifeSkills
About Barclays LifeSkills
Launched in 2013 when youth unemployment rates were high and research showed that young people lacked job-related abilities, Barclays sought to find a solution to ensure that young people were better equipped for work. The result was its flagship free employability skills and financial education programme – Barclays LifeSkills.
LifeSkills is designed for all ages from young people aged 7+ to adults and families and has supported millions of people to develop employability skills and placed thousands into work through collaboration with the education sector, respected charities, and the business community.
Although youth unemployment rates have seen an improvement, the programme has continued to focus on how best to support people to thrive. Going forward, LifeSkills has pivoted its strategy – putting socio-economic inclusion at the heart of the programme by helping those that would otherwise get left behind and provide support where they can make the greatest positive impact in communities.
Research has shown that students who participated across the programme have been impacted positively, for example:
Barclays LifeSkills Workshops
Working with delivery partners, LifeSkills extends the reach of the programme into schools and colleges across the UK that meet specific socio-economic deprivation criteria through facilitated workshops.
Business in the Community (BITC) has been a Barclays LifeSkills delivery partner since 2016. Our facilitators work with teachers and Barclays volunteers across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to deliver face-to-face and virtual workshops that focus on a variety of topics within key areas such as core transferable skills, financial education and employability.
In Scotland, our delivery covers Glasgow and Kilmarnock. Belfast is the focus for delivery in Northern Ireland. In Wales, the team works across South Wales.
Testimonials
“I now know how to save money and present my CV and how to make it stand out. It has helped me learn new qualities and strengths about myself.”
Eastbank Academy Pupil
“I enjoyed the opportunity the help the children think about what skills and experience they already have that might support them in a working environment; some of which they may have not considered as applicable before.”
Ashley
Barclays Volunteer“These sessions have been invaluable to our learners. It has been a pleasure to see how engaged learners have been with the sessions.”
PHSE Co-ordinator Lliswerry High School
Case studies
Pupils ‘Let their Light Shine’ with Barclays LifeSkills
Welsh Students Learn Invaluable Barclays LifeSkills Lessons
Frequently Asked Questions
Check whether you are eligible for support by contacting our team in your nation.
In addition, all schools in Scotland can sign up to free online Barclays LifeSkills workshops through DYW Live.
Barclays LifeSkills provides free tools and lesson resources to develop employability and money skills working with young people and has 150+ hours of curriculum-linked content for use in the classroom. For anyone over the age of 14, it has tailored content to use independently or together as a family.
You can also find further information on how to utilise the online work experience programme, and up to date insights around employability skills and financial capability landscape.
References
1 Chrysalis Research Evaluation of LifeSkills 2020 and 2023
