Young Consumers of the Year Competition

What is it?

It's a fun, challenging, interactive competition, complementing the Citizenship Curriculum.  It is organised annually by KCC Trading Standards for young people, and run by the Trading Standards Institute. Regional finalists go through to the national final held during the National Annual Conference of the Institute.

Some 10,000 young people take part each year and gain a lasting appreciation of consumer rights and responsibilities.

 

The 2011 Kent final

The Kent final, sponsored by  "The Co-operative Membership", took place on 4 March 2011 at County Hall, Maidstone and coincided with Fairtrade Fortnight.

Quiz Master BBC Radio Kent Presenter Pat Marsh took the teams through their paces with the winning teams from Heats 1 and 2 and the highest scorer runner-up going through to the Final. The team from Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School Federation, Ramsgate won their heat holding onto their lead throughout to become the 2011 Kent Champions, going on to represent Kent in the regional final.

The Stephanie Luxford Memorial Trophy is awarded to the highest scoring team from the elimination round and this year the trophy went to Wrotham School, whose "MaGee Singing Club" was invited to perform during the sponsors buffet lunch. 

The Wrotham School also won a special prize awarded by the Co-operative. The prize is awarded to the school of the winning team that the Co-op feels reflects the co-operative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity regardless of their score in the competition.  The prize this year is a workshop run by the British Youth Film Academy, and will be a fast-paced day including all the major areas of film-making.

Left to right: Dave Burney (Teacher), Doreen Wise (Chair of the Kent Area Committee of the Co-operative), Marion Ward (Trading Standards Advice & Education Manager), Mike Hill (KCC Cabinet Member for Community Services), Pat Marsh (BBC Radio Kent Presenter) & Bill Hayton (KCC Chairman. Back Row; Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School Federation team.

The regional final

2011 Kent finalists, the team from Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School Federation, Ramsgate, went on to represent Kent at the South East Regional Final on 15 March in Eastbourne where they won through the heat to the final round. The team then went head to head with the Portsmouth team for the final round where a closely fought competition saw Portsmouth take the title. Portsmouth now go on to represent the region in the national event held during the Trading Standards Institute conference in Bournemouth in June 2011.

The Kent team and their teacher at the Regional Final in Eastbourne

 

How your school can take part

Kent schools can contact Sandra Cook on 01233 614067. Kent Trading Standards run local heats from September to December each year.

 

Sponsorship opportunities

Visit our sponsorship page to find out more about the benefits to your business or contact Sandra Cook on 01233 614067 or email sandra.cook@kent.gov.uk