Our story
"Don't worry, Dad. It's only £10."
That's how Make Sense of Pence began.
How it started
When Paul's eight-year-old daughter lost a £10 note, she wasn't upset. "It's only £10," she said. A few weeks later, at the bakery, she suggested paying by card, then by phone, then by watch, "like Mum does". She knew every way to pay. She just didn't know what money was really worth.
Paul Dorkings and Dave Christophi spend their working lives helping businesses around the world understand money. Both are dads. They realised that if adults find money confusing, children have little chance unless someone explains it early, simply and in a way that sticks.
So they wrote a book. Then three more. Then they took the ideas into classrooms, and have now delivered the Money Wise Workshop to more than 1,000 pupils. Now there's an app.
Money lessons are rarely learned the easy way
Money problems rarely stay money problems. Money is the biggest strain on UK relationships. Debt brings stress, anxiety and family breakdown. At its most serious, people in problem debt are three times more likely to have considered suicide.
We can't fix all of that. But we believe the best protection is understanding, and the best time to start is childhood, before the habits set and before the hard lessons arrive.
If money worries are affecting you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available from:
Our three rules for money
Don't fear money
If you're worried, talk to someone.
Respect the money you have
Someone, somewhere worked hard for it.
Be careful with it
Once it's gone, it's gone.
And one rule for how we teach: we never tell children what's right or wrong. We help them make informed decisions.
Meet Paul and Dave
Paul Dorkings
Co-founder of Your Guardian and co-creator of Make Sense of Pence
Paul has been a leader in the active leisure sector since 2002, rising from Sales Consultant to Managing Director and guiding two companies through acquisitions worth over £33 million. In 2020 he co-founded Your Guardian to give businesses strategic support.
It was a conversation with his eight-year-old daughter that started Make Sense of Pence. Paul brings his passion for education and business development to the books and the app, and delivers the Money Wise Workshops in schools himself.
Dave Christophi
Co-founder of Your Guardian and co-creator of Make Sense of Pence
Dave has over 30 years' experience across military service, education leadership and business consultancy. He spent 14 years in the RAF specialising in airborne logistics, became Operations Director at Premier Training International, and later ran a multimillion-dollar health and fitness operation in Australia.
After working with Paul on a business turnaround in 2016, the two went on to create Your Guardian. A keen sportsman and a dad, Dave divides his time between the UK and Perth, Australia.
Make Sense of Pence is published by Your Guardian Limited.