One 11-year-old boy from Doncaster, Theo, made national headlines last week for his exceptional advocacy on behalf of financial education. After his appearance on BBC’s Politics North show, he received a personal invite to sit down with the Chancellor of the Exchequer at 11 Downing Street. There, he received a congratulatory high-five for his remarkable work!
Theo’s path to becoming a financial literacy advocate started since he was eight years old. He answered the call to educate his parents on why saving is essential. Beyond his unique talents, his maturity is stunning for a child his young age. His passion for mathematics contributed to his interest in financial topics, becoming his favorite subject in school. He has told the press of his enthusiasm in wanting to have greater financial education included in England’s school curriculum.
The Chancellor, taken aback, but moved and inspired by Theo’s vision and commitment, extended an invitation to be received in Downing Street. Theo’s life experiences and journey during their meeting inspired some new ideas for how young people could save more money. “I believe that understanding money is essential for everyone, especially kids,” he stated during his visit. This incitement dovetails beautifully with his current, personal mission to promote greater financial education in American schools—that’s right, we said schools.
Theo proves to be not only a budding financial whiz but a fiercely loyal brother. He has three siblings: a 12-year-old brother, an eight-year-old sister, and a four-year-old youngest brother. Balancing family life with his advocacy work, Theo often shares his knowledge with his siblings, encouraging them to save and manage their pocket money wisely.
In his search for financial independence, Theo has been working hard—before COVID put things on pause—saving up both a car and house deposit. So he uses a high yield savings account to make his money work for him, taking advantage of the magical power of compound interest. He goes beyond his community’s proactive approach to savings and directly advocates for it with his parents. It highlights his dedication to building financial literacy among his own family.
Theo’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. His recent appearance on Politics North echoed the importance of rolling out mandatory financial education in schools all over England as soon as possible. He believes that if children learn how to handle money early on, they will be better equipped to face future financial challenges.