Schoolchildren are being urged to save money

Kapital Kids, which is run by Capital Credit Union, is working with youngsters at Wallyford Primary School.

Every week a Capital Credit volunteer goes to the school to collect money from the children and teach them the benefits of regular saving.

The project is funded by a �10,000 grant from Capital Credit Union's Scottish credit unions assistance fund.

'Fair deal'

Deputy communities minister Johann Lamont said: "Credit unions give everyone a fair deal and the people who already use them are gaining financial security and a better way of life, not just for themselves but for their families.

"This is a marvellous example of credit unions working to reach even more people and showing that you are never too young to start learning the value of financial responsibility."

Ian Mitchell, director of community regeneration at Communities Scotland, said: "By the time these children are old enough to have personal bank accounts they will know what saving is about and carry the good habits they have learned from the Kapital Kids programme into their adult lives."

'Later life'

John May, business development officer at Capital Credit Union, said: "The aim is to encourage financial skills for later life teaching kids what money is and how it can be used.

"We hope that the kids will go home and speak with their parents about money.