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 2011
A team of pupils from St. Albans R C High School in Pontypool are once again the Torfaen Young Consumers of the Year. In a hotly contested final held recently at the Lecture Theatre in County Hall the winning team beat off the challenge of three other teams from West Mon School, Pontypool College and Fairwater School.
The team of four pupils, Jonathan Reynolds, Alex Berry, Rhian Patterson and Aimee Ehrenzeller had to show off their knowledge on a range of subjects including Consumer Law, Health and Social Responsibility, Food, Safety, Environment, Legal Matters, Finance and Europe and will now represent Torfaen in both the Greater Gwent Challenge and the Welsh Finals of the competition which are being held in Llandrindod Wells on 8th March.
The competition is organised nationally by the Trading Standards Institute and locally by Torfaen County Borough Council Trading Standards Team. The event was attended by His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Tom Huish who presented prizes to all four teams. Also in attendance were Councillor Sarah Richards and members from Cwmbran and Ponthir Community Councils as well as teachers and supporters of the four teams who gave vocal support throughout.
"Congratulations must be given to all four teams for giving the audience such an excellent and entertaining competition with all the pupils who participated showing a high level of consumer knowledge".
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 647274