is a three year umbrella project that aims to engage the people of the Solent region in a critical
exploration of the notion of economic citizenship with specific reference to:

• 43% of the UK adult population is affected by money worries.
• 3.8m people in the UK admit money worries have caused them to take time off work.
• 80% of the population do not know what APR is despite the fact that two thirds have credit cards. 25% of
  teenagers think an ISA is a sports drink.
• 70% of people have made no provision to face a drop in income - although 28% of people had
  experienced such a drop in the last three years.
• 1 in 5 adults do not know what inflation is.
• 60% of voters in the 2005 General election based their choice of political party on economic issues.
• 63% of adults in the UK wish they understood more about personal finance and tax.

Makes the world go around?
'Economics dominates and shapes our daily lives, even when we are not aware of it'
A Free Lunch David Smith

There is no getting away from the fact that, in one form or another, money matters permeate every aspect of life.
The average individual makes hundreds of economic decisions every day and is bombarded with equal amounts of
financial information. Rich or poor, working or unemployed, young or old.in some way or another economics affects
us all.

Our political choices are equally affected by economic concerns. This is not surprising given the fact that, for the
majority of the population, our main relationship with the state is a financial one. We pay taxes and receive services
or benefits in return. Indeed, and perhaps unfortunately, it is only when this 'financial' relationship breaks down, or is
threatened with change, that the silent majority becomes politically engaged. Consequently, the state opening of
parliament rarely causes a stir whilst 'The Budget' is a truly national political event.

Citizenship is about playing an active role in our society. Citizenship economics concerns itself with the increased
importance of economic issues (be they personal, national or global) to the cause of democratic self determination
and the empowerment of our communities.