Projects

At Home With
The Wiltons
(Sep - Nov 2009)

When Ma Wilton returns to work, Pa Wilton is only too happy to take control of the family finances. After all, how difficult can it be? Now free from the stresses of the workplace, lord of the house and the purse-strings Pa is itching to make some improvements …

And with a few small changes to their budget maybe he can finally afford some of the things he’s always wanted … Like that big screen TV …

Join Pa Wilton in this hilarious farcical comedy as he learns about the economics of everyday life including…

Budgeting and money management ~ Expenditure, Earnings
How banks work ~ Accounts, Interest, Standing orders, Direct Debits
Borrowing ~ Consumer credit, Hire purchase, Unsustainable debt and Illegal lending

"I would definitely recommend seeing this play because I thought I knew a fair bit about family finance, but I learnt a lot that I did not know, such as the difference between credit and debit cards."
Student 11D – Oldfield School, Bath

"A great event, the actors were superb! All students involved thoroughly enjoyed the show and the activities involved."
T. Waller, Head of Mathematics, Chichester High School for Boys

Interested in a whole day activity? See our Financial Capability Day!

At Home with the Wiltons is a financial literacy play with a difference. Part Waltons, part Simpsons - the play follows the protagonist, Pa Wilton, as he learns how to budget his finances in order to look after his family after being made redundant. The play utilises drama, narration, multimedia, music and participation to engage both young and adult audiences in an exploration of personal finance.

At Home with the Wiltons is part of Money Matters our three year umbrella project focusing on financial literacy and as such acts as an introduction to the serious and complex issues surrounding easy credit, borrowing and debt.

'I learnt about debt issues and how to avoid debt. I discovered that even young people can find themselves in serious debt – this is awful. I recommend this play as it was very amusing and interesting.'
Student 11D - Oldfield School, Bath

‘…We have had huge positive feedback on (the) play and workshop. Everyone we spoke to enjoyed it immensely and learned a bit or two from it as well.’
L. Evans, South West Rhyl Communities First

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Post show workshop:

Part one:
Who Stole Grandpa’s Medals - an hour long workshop which draws upon some of the issues highlighted in the play using an ‘Audience as Detective’ active learning methodology. The participants are tasked with solving a whodunit mystery by analysing evidence (credit statements, bank statements, receipts, etc…) and by interviewing suspects (actors in role).

Part two:
Who’s To Blame For Debt - debate stimulated by the issues drawn out of the whodunit which delves deeper into the question ‘who is to blame for debt?’ – looking at advertising, credit companies, peer pressure etc. The workshop also uses interactive audience voting with individual keypads that allow each member of the audience to have a say in the subsequent issue-based discussions.

Simple, but genius. The proof of the pudding was the verve with which some of the harder elements of the year sought to solve the puzzle and continued to do so after the bell had gone!
N. Phillips, Drama Teacher, Bitterne Park School, Southampton