Pendle YES Hub, a youth employment service based in Nelson, has formed a new partnership with NatWest Burnley to help young people develop essential money management skills.
The collaboration began after Gregg, the Senior Manager at the NatWest Bank in Burnley, saw his daughter Elecia receive support from the YES Hub in 2025. Gregg and his wife, Cat, discovered the service through social media when Elecia began experiencing poor mental health. After struggling to find appropriate support elsewhere, they contacted the YES Hub, who promptly arranged a same-day meeting with Gregg, Cat and Elecia. During the meeting, the family were able to tour the YES Hub’s facilities, meet the team and work together to create a tailored support pathway for Elecia.
Now, Elecia has been able to return to studying for her A‑levels and has also resumed working part‑time. Keen to give something back to the service that helped his daughter rebuild her confidence, Gregg offered to deliver NatWest’s Financial Foundations workshops to YES Hub participants, alongside a fellow team member, Muqqs.
Launched by NatWest in 2024, the Financial Foundations workshops aim to improve young people’s financial wellbeing, covering topics such as budgeting, scam awareness and managing the cost of living. Recently, colleagues from NatWest Burnley visited the YES Hub to deliver an introductory session for staff and partner organisations. The session provided an overview of the workshops, guidance on appropriate referrals, and advice on recognising the signs that a young person may be experiencing financial difficulties.
“Since returning to manage the NatWest Burnley team, supporting our local community has been a key focus. After personally using the Yes Hub’s services for my daughter last year, they were the first organisation I contacted because of the fantastic work Dave and his team do for young people in Pendle. I’m looking forward to collaborating with them to enhance the support they already provide.”
Mehvish Ashraf, Youth Engagement Worker at the YES Hub, who worked closely with Gregg and his daughter during her time at the Hub, said: “NatWest’s Financial Foundations workshops are a welcome addition to the support we offer at the YES Hub for young people aged 16–24. We work with young people who are not currently in employment, education or training, providing a range of services including access to training and qualifications, one-to-one employment support, mental health sessions, and physical activity programmes designed to build confidence before moving into work or education.
“Having worked with Gregg and his daughter last year, it’s clear how passionate he is about ensuring young people have the tools and support they need to thrive. It’s really touching that he has gone above and beyond to support our participants, and we’re excited to be working with him and his colleagues from NatWest Burnley to offer practical financial guidance to the young people we support.”
Pendle YES Hub was set up in 2021 by Pendle Borough Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and Positive Action in the Community and is managed by charity Active Lancashire. The YES Hub offers a wide range of provision for 16-24 year olds who are not currently in education, employment and training. For further information on the YES Hub’s activities or to sign up to the Financial Foundations workshops, please email MAshraf@activelancashire.org.uk or visit www.ActiveLancashire.org.uk
