Calls from students to the English Collective of Prostitutes’ helpline have at least doubled in the past year and the NUS estimates that about 20 per cent of women working in lap dancing clubs are students.

 

It has never been more crucial to ensure our young people are equipped with essential money management skills before they leave home and begin adult life away from the safety net of their parents and families.

 

Since the recession in 2008, finding temporary and part-time work to supplement a student loan has become increasingly difficult. The rising cost of living is also taking its toll on students’ pockets.

 

Plus, it’s likely that fewer parents are in a position to help their children financially than in the past.

 

It’s ridiculous that more than a million young people are not in work, education or training. It’s terrible that the average person is 38 before they can afford to buy a home and it’s disappointing that students start their adult lives in tens of thousands of pounds of debt. But, it is a national scandal that our children are being driven into a seedy world full of abuse, violence and drugs, just to ensure they keep the roof over their head or so that they can buy the books they need.

 

In just 10 years the number of University students who know someone working in the sex industry has rocketed from 3pc to 25pc, according to research from the University of Kingston. It was also discovered that 16pc of students are now considering working in the sex trade: approximately a quarter of a million full-time undergraduates.

 

Yesterday, MPs debated the provision of financial education in schools following a petition started by money-saving expert Martin Lewis. Many of the comments from MPs were encouraging and very supportive of financial education but now we need action. The sooner we can implement a robust money management learning programme in our schools, the better. We can’t afford to fail another generation of children.