ABC Life Literacy Canada expands family financial literacy program

ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce that the HSBC Family Literacy First program, supported by HSBC Bank Canada, has recently expanded. The program releases a new workbook, a series of learning videos, and launches a new award for the literacy community.

The new workbook, entitled Friendship Bracelets, includes a story and four new activities that teach children how to count money and calculate tax. It can be downloaded for free at FamilyLiteracyFirst.ca in English, French and Simplified Chinese. This latest workbook brings the total number of modules to 16, six of which focus on family financial literacy.

In addition to the downloadable workbook, several accompanying short video lessons are available. The videos were recorded by HSBC employee volunteers reading stories and walking through activities, providing a more interactive learning experience.

The HSBC Family Literacy First program was created in 2015 to bring together parents and children to have fun while learning as a family. The program offers more than 85 free downloadable stories and activities for families with children aged six to 11, with many of the resources focusing on family financial literacy.

Alongside the release of the new workbook and videos is a new award launched earlier this month – the HSBC Family Literacy First Fund – which recognizes Canadian organizations that are making significant contributions to the field of family financial literacy.

This award honours programs that empower families to develop their financial literacy skills together and serves as a model for other organizations to adapt. Canadian not-for-profit organizations and registered charities can apply for one of four awards of $2,500. The award can be invested into the program and/or applied to program improvement.

“We’re so thrilled that HSBC Bank Canada continues their support to advance family financial literacy in Canada,” says Alison Howard, Executive Director of ABC Life Literacy Canada. “With the new award and this year’s new learning resources, literacy organizations across the country will be able to continue to help families improve their financial literacy skills. Through family financial literacy, parents are able to gain the confidence to make smart financial decisions for their families, and children learn from an early age the importance of budgeting and money management.”

“It’s exciting to see the release of the new, free HSBC Family Literacy First workbook,” says David Kuo, Head of Branch Network, Ontario. “It is so important for young people and families to be offered the tools to learn financial literacy to build their own money management skills.”

The HSBC Family Literacy First Fund application period runs from May 16 to July 4, 2022.

To learn more about the award, the program, or to access the workbook and activities, visit FamilyLiteracyFirst.ca.