Research

MaPS has commissioned Loughborough University to carry out ground-breaking qualitative research to explore how a set of materials to measure the financial literacy of four to six-year-old children can be most effectively designed. Results from the first phase of the study – a small-scale test of the use of comic strips – have now been delivered, showing that they may be an appropriate and...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) estimates that 11.5 million people in the UK have less than £100 in savings, leaving them incapable of withstanding financial shocks. With many facing cost of living pressures, it is likely that the number of people who are financially stretched will increase over the next 12 months. Payroll savings products can be a powerful way to support the...

Lab pilots: Nationwide Building Society project We know that making a habit of saving money is crucial to developing long-term financial wellbeing. Yet over 10 million working aged people in the UK do not save regularly – with 2 million people not having any savings at all. Without this savings buffer, people could be left vulnerable to unexpected costs and unmanageable debt,...

This report covers the approach that MaPS took to its 2021 Debt Need Survey, working with research agency Alligator. The report goes into detail on how we executed each aspect of the project from questionnaire development, interviewing and data processing. Insights from the survey were used to produce this blog on who needs debt advice in 2022. More details on our new Need For...

Understanding how to embed and scale effective financial education professional learning Evidence shows that learning and experiences in childhood are important influences on being able to manage and make the most of money in life. As such, teachers (alongside parents) play a key role in providing opportunities for young people to engage and learn about money, shaping their financial...

UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing Following listening events in Scotland and across the UK, The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing at the start of 2020. The Strategy is designed to bring partners together to transform the country’s financial wellbeing in a decade. Since then, MaPS has been coordinating proposals for a Delivery Plan for...

What is the survey? The Financial Wellbeing Survey 2021 is a nationally representative survey of over 10,000 adults living in the UK. The questionnaire covers the building blocks required for people to feel financially resilient, confident, and empowered. These include: Current and longer-term financial wellbeingDay-to-day behaviours like managing credit, active saving and keeping track...

Two years on from the pandemic, we, at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), have been looking at the effect the closure of in-person services during the pandemic had on the accessibility and delivery of debt advice in the UK. The idea for the research came from our UK Challenge Group, who were concerned that the overall fall in demand for debt advice seen during the pandemic was...

Following listening events in Northern Ireland and across the UK, The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing at the start of 2020. The Strategy is designed to bring partners together to transform the country’s financial wellbeing in a decade. UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing Since then, MaPS has been coordinating proposals for a Delivery...

 Currently, only 48% of the UK’s children and young people receive a meaningful financial education. The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) works with stakeholders as part of our role in coordinating the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing, to encourage an uplift in the delivery and impact of financial education for children and young people over the next eight years. One of our national...

Measuring financial literacy of children aged 4 to 6 years: design and small-scale test

Using behavioural science to help employees save: Payroll savings scheme

Developing saving habits through prize-linked savings accounts

2021 Debt Need Survey Technical Report

Financial education Professional Learning for Teachers in Wales: pathfinder evaluation

Delivery Plan for Scotland

Financial Wellbeing Survey 2021

Access to debt advice during Covid-19 pandemic

Delivery Plan for Northern Ireland

The Children and Young People Financial Education Innovation and Evaluation Programme

Managing money in uncertain times