TEENAGERS at four York schools have been finding out that money matters, thanks to a new partnership with one of York's largest employers. Education reporter Haydn Lewis called in at Burnholme Community College to meet some of the pupils taking part.

insurer Norwich Union has launched a schools volunteering programme that will address citizenship teaching in four York schools - Burnholme Community College, Huntington School, Joseph Rowntree School and Canon Lee School.

Paying For It is a new schools programme developed by independent education charity Citizenship Foundation and Norwich Union which supports citizenship teaching around economics and finance.

In York, 26 Norwich Union volunteers are using specially written resources to work with small groups of teenagers on different economic citizenship topics such as health, money, environment and public spending.

At the end of the academic year, pupils from each participating school will come together for a discussion day with a panel of experts, including MPs, councillors, community leaders and Norwich Union staff.

Pupils will be asked to investigate and debate a local economic issue, using the skills they have learned during the sessions.

At Burnholme, volunteers will be talking to students over a six-week period about money, crime, health, the environment, "giving" and "international issues".

Year 10 tutor Cath Blacketer said: "I think projects like this get the children thinking. Norwich Union is a massive employer in this area and this partnership is opening their minds to the world of finance as being an option for their future career.

"Each student is being encouraged to think for themselves and express their own ideas. They are building skills for debating ideas, listening to others and valuing other people's points of view."

Paul Gage, 35, is a computer programmer for Norwich Union and is one of the Burnholme volunteers. He said it was not just the children who benefited from the lessons.

He said: "It does feel good to have the opportunity to be able to give something back to the community and do something positive.

"You get a bit of an idea of what it is like to be a teacher. It's been a good experience. The students have some surprising opinions. For example, when we talked to them about money they were all really anti-credit - they all think you should save for things rather than borrowing, when we had expected it to be the exact opposite view."

Tony Breslin, chief executive of the Citizenship Foundation, said: "Personal finance education is important, but it is critical that young people also have the opportunity to explore their values about money.

"The Paying For It website and school sessions have been designed to provide an engaging way for young people to do exactly that."

For more information, log on to www.payingforit.org.uk