Two campaigns to improve financial literacy among children start today, one backed by the Open University, the other a cartoon to help with basic maths.

The aim is to get children to understand money, the importance of saving, and to like - rather than fear - numbers.

The cartoon was the idea of Rory Murphy, chairman of trustees at the fund Ensign. "Saving is a life skill," he tells Wake up to Money. "It's about learning simple lessons."

The aims have the support of Bobby Seagull - a maths expert who you might remember from his appearance on University Challenge.

He's now a maths teacher, and tells the show that one of his biggest frustrations is the attitude of parents.

"Many parents say they were no good at maths and don't like it. That gives their children a free pass" to say the same, he says. If parents want to help, start by getting rid of the negativity.