Barclays Group Chairman Marcus Agius visited a UNICEF project in Manila this month to see if funds donated by the British financial giant are used to improve the lives of poor Filipino families.

Together with UK National Committee for UNICEF Executive Director David Bull, Agius visited families in Pasay City who have benefited from the conditional cash transfer scheme (CCT).

Aimed at improving children's health and education, the CCT is provided by the government and supported through a joint project by Barclays and the UK National Committee for UNICEF.

The "Building Young Futures" project between UNICEF and Barclays is extending $360,000 over three years to the Philippines, and focuses on two areas in Masbate province and Pasay City. The global project is supporting similar activities in nine other countries, amounting to a total of $7.3 million over the three-year period.

"This is a groundbreaking, innovative collaboration with a respected global corporation who have clear expertise in financial and resource management. The project will benefit 40,000 of the poorest people living in Masbate and Pasay, and is likely to benefit a far greater number through better health and education and by enabling poor families to begin to build a future for themselves," said UNICEF Philippine representative Vanessa Tobin, who accompanied Agius during the visit.

Agius and Bull visited an early learning session, attended a livelihood training session, and planted a tree at the Kalayaan High School garden to demonstrate their long-term commitment to support the community.

"It has been a fantastic day and a great opportunity to meet the families and young people that are already receiving support thanks to the UNICEF and Barclays partnership. I would like to extend a huge thanks to Barclays for their commitment to this project - together we can deliver real and sustainable change for many more families like these, both in the Philippines and the world," Bull said after the visit.