MHA supports Marsh Community Centre as part of £17.5k investment in Northern financial literacy

The donation to Marsh Community Centre is among five made to date this year by the firm’s MHA 1892 Foundation to charities and organisations across the North to support improved financial literacy among young people, a total donation of £17,500.

The MHA 1892 Foundation was launched by MHA in 2023 as a pilot in the North West and, following its success, was rolled out nationally in 2025. Its purpose is to deliver accessible, engaging financial education to young people in the communities where MHA operates, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take control of their financial futures.

Marsh Community Centre is based in the Marsh area of Lancaster. The centre supports people with issues related to benefits and housing, provides employment and debt advice, access to computers and a range of other support. It also runs activity sessions and programmes for both adults and young people.

The funding from MHA was used to support a six-week project during March and April for 11 people, prompting them to think about money through the lens of future careers.

The sessions created a ‘boardroom’ style setting to encourage young people to share ideas about the world of work and take part in games and sessions about the cost of living. Young people also developed business ideas over the course of the programme, gaining experience of a variety of different roles which improved their maths, English, communication and teamwork skills.    

Deborah Hargreaves, CEO, Marsh Community Centre said: “We are incredibly grateful for MHA’s grant funding to support our Young Apprentice Project, which helped young people develop essential life skills such as budgeting, saving, teamwork and enterprise.

“The feedback from those who took part was that they learned a huge amount from the sessions. By involving young people in real projects where they can plan, manage and understand money, we are not only building their confidence but also giving them tools that will benefit them long into adulthood.”

Rachel Marsdin, Partner at MHA’s Lancaster office said: “Making financial education accessible for every young person is vital to shaping a brighter future. It’s a positive step that the government has recognised this through much-needed changes to the national curriculum, but this will only begin in 2028. A broader range of solutions is needed and sooner.

“Since the MHA 1892 Foundation was launched in the North West, we have supported a range of organisations helping young people from different cultures and backgrounds receive the support they need to better understand their finances by the time they reach adulthood.

“Marsh Community Centre helps hundreds of young people across Lancaster and Morecambe each year and we’re proud to have supported its work through the MHA 1892 Foundation.”

The MHA 1892 Foundation takes its name from the year MHA’s predecessor in the North West, MHA Moore and Smalley, was founded. Funds are generated through charitable initiatives by MHA staff, supplemented by match funding from the firm’s partners.