RED ALERT! GOVERNMENT PRAISE FOR EDGE HILL

3 June 2004

RED ALERT! GOVERNMENT PRAISE FOR EDGE HILL

An interactive budget sheet, available to Edge Hill students, that helps them manage their finances, was praised in the House of Lords, during a debate on the Higher Education Bill.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland praised the Red Alert package devised by support staff at Edge Hill, as an example of ways of ensuring that students have access to help with managing finances.

"Some institutions have already developed quite innovative ways of ensuring that students find out about support. I can think of one that was brought to my attention, Edge Hill College of Higher Education, which has a computer-based interactive budget sheet that helps students understand and get an image of their finances, so that they can see what position they are actually in. There are lots of good ideas and this is really important."

Red Alert is a user-friendly budget sheet, available on the internet that alerts students, in advance, as to when they may be likely to overspend and head into the red. The survival tool then allows students to plan and manage their money, so that they can see how to make their cash stretch to cover their time as a student.

Chief Executive of Edge Hill, John Cater is delighted that the pioneering student finance package has been recognised by Government.

He said: "Every student needs to understand the importance of sensible budgeting, and Red Alert is an easy to use software tool that helps demystify everyday finances. Although students will have immediate access to more cash as the Higher Education Bill is implemented, and Edge Hill will provide tailored support packages for more students, many of them will also take on more debt. This will only be repayable after graduation and by those meeting the earnings threshold, but there is no doubt that sensible debt management is an essential skill for life. We are delighted that Edge Hill's innovative work in this and other areas has been recognised by the Government's spokespersons in both the Commons and the Lords." ENDS EDITOR?S NOTES: For further press information please contact: Roisin Rowley-Smith PR Manager Tel: 01695 584509 Fax: 01695 584355 E mail: rowlesr@edgehill.ac.uk or pressoffice@edgehill.ac.uk