NORTH Ayrshire debt, welfare and housing advice charity, CHAP, has secured three years of funding from The Robertson Trust.

This will enable CHAP to expand its current collaboration with North Ayrshire Council to deliver comprehensive financial education workshops in secondary schools.

The money will also allow CHAP to pilot new initiatives, designed to help young people across the region raise aspirations and reach their full potential.

The goal is to help students build critical life skills over time, ensuring that the practical knowledge gained is effectively retained and applied for long-term benefit.

CHAP’s Education Officer Robin Ballantyne said: “This generous funding will bolster CHAP’s current involvement in secondary education, allowing us to deliver more frequent and in-depth workshops for pupils on essential topics such as financial literacy, savings, budgeting, and avoiding debt.”

With this funding, CHAP will:

  • Expand its involvement in schools, offering more frequent and comprehensive sessions to engage pupils and develop their financial skills progressively.
  • Increase student participation by delivering regular, hands-on workshops that reinforce key financial concepts, ensuring learning is retained and embedded for lasting impact.
  • Extend activities to younger pupils, reaching those from S1 to S6 to build a strong foundation during key transitional phases of their lives.
  • Work closely with schools to support non-attenders, providing tailored interventions in alternative learning environments to help break down barriers and encourage re-engagement with education.

The funding also allows CHAP to continue its partnership with Greenwood Academy and North Ayrshire Council’s Community Learning and Development team on the Mount Project, which supports disengaged pupils.

Through the project, students can earn Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) certificates and participate in practical skills training, such as barista workshops, to help build their confidence and enhance employability opportunities.