In a pioneering effort to instill financial literacy at an early age, veteran investor Peter Davies of Lansdowne Partners recently sat down with Aryan Shekhar, the 11-year-old Chancellor of the Exchequer, at Sir David Amis's UK Children's Parliament for primary school students.
Accompanied by five other students from Westminster Under School, Shekhar quizzed Davies about the complex world of investing, emphasizing the Children's Parliament's mission of empowering the next generation with financial literacy.
“The critical aim is to promote the development of financial literacy in primary schools across the UK,” Shekhar said, echoing Parliament’s aim of engaging 7-11 year olds with complex financial concepts.
Andrew Fox, Executive Director of the UK Children's Parliament, stressed the importance of this endeavour, saying: “Children have open minds. Primary school is the right age to start learning about money, even complex financial instruments.
Former head of UK government-backed Start-up Loans, James Caan, CBE, added his thoughts on the Children's Parliament, praising it: “An excellent idea and long overdue.”
The interview with Davies marks the opening event in Shekar's series which aims to demystify finance through conversations with leading figures in the City of London.
In October 2021, the adult Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, was 'questioned' by children's MPs from Amesbury Primary School in Hindhead, Surrey, at the opening of the Children's Parliament.
- Meeting MP for South West Surrey Jeremy Hunt and answering questions from pupils at Amesbury Primary School, Hindhead, Surrey. Photo by Steve Riggett
With support from Wakelet, Microsoft 365, and media partners Business Matters Magazine and The Express, the Children's Parliament is in its third year of empowering youth voices.
Veteran traders Ed Davies and Len Clarke from the Trans-Pacific Partnership serve as advisors, ensuring a strong financial literacy curriculum.
As the next generation takes the lead, this innovative initiative promises to shape a smart financial future for young Britons.
