Young Consumers of the Year
Young Consumers of the Year is a unique competition that involves hundreds of schools from across the country, who rise to the challenge to become the nation's top 'Young Consumers'.
Co-ordinated by the Trading Standards Institute, it invites teams of four, aged between 14 and 18 years old to compete in a knockout quiz which tests them on a range of consumer issues including:
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Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
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Money and Finance
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Food & Health
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Safety and the Environment
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Europe
The competition is separated out into three stages, from local finals to regional competitions culminating in the fiercely fought Grand National Final which is held during the Trading Standards Institute annual conference.
Wales Young Consumers 2008
On Tuesday 4th March 2008 at the Pavilion Theatre, Llandrindod Wells, teams of youngsters representing schools from 16 Welsh Local Authorities, tested their wits on a wide range of Consumer related subjects in the Welsh Regional Final of the Young Consumers of the Year Competition. Held in a knock out format using an electronic
buzzer system this was an exciting and challenging competition.
Along the way contestants amass a great deal of knowledge, which they would not otherwise learn at school. The competition raises student's awareness of their rights and responsibilities and gives them essential life skills as they prepare for the world beyond school.
Thanks to the generous support of the competition sponsors - The Hoover Foundation, The Co-operative Group, Food Standards Agency(Wales), Brecon Carreg, Hasbro, W H Smith, Validate, Niagara Healthcare, Consumer Direct Wales and Iceland; all teams were accommodated overnight at the Metropole Hotel and enjoyed a pre-competition dinner and entertainment the night before the competition took place.
The winning team, Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn from Carmarthenshire C.C. were awarded a prize of £250 for their school together with the winners trophy. The runners up, St. Albans R.C. High School from Torfaen C.B.C. (2007's UK Runners up) received £100 and all entrants to the competition were given certificates, gift vouchers and a bag of "goodies". Both the winning team and the runners up now go on to represent Wales at the National Finals, which take centre stage at the Trading Standards Institute Conference being held in Bournemouth on 25th June '08 and are sponsored by the Office of Fair Trading.
Alan Branch-O`Neill (Chairman of the Welsh YCOY Organising Committee) said "A team from Wales were UK champions in 2003 and staff from Trading Standards will be giving all the help they can to both Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn and St. Albans in the hope that they can bring the trophy back to Wales again".
Steve Weare (Director of FSA Wales) said "The Food Standards Agency's messages about healthy eating and food safety are very important for young people to be aware of which is why the Agency have again this year acted as one of the sponsors of the UK Young Consumers of the Year. I offer my congratulations who those who were successful in the Wales final and hope that all those who have taken part remember the messages they have learned and apply them in their day-to-day life".
The competition is designed to make young people aware of their rights and responsibilities and gives them essential life skills as they prepare for the world of work. The questions asked, at all levels of the competition are an excellent grounding for pupils who are or may wish to study Law, Economics, Food Technology, Business Studies and General Studies. Students who have participated in previous competitions, have stated in their UCAS personal statements that they have been a member of a participating team, which has been of great interest with admission tutors.
Those schools who wish to participate will find a huge amount of support from local Trading Standards Services and teachers will discover that there is very little work involved, for what can be – great rewards!
For further information you will need to contact your local Trading Standards Service 'Young Consumers' co-ordinator.
Alan Branch-O'Neill
Trading Standards Team
Planning and Public Protection Service
Torfaen County Borough Council
Floor 4, County Hall
Cwmbran
NP44 2WN
Tel: 01633 648473