The heats are on! (From Penarth Times)

The heats are on!

THE SEARCH is on for the Vale of Glamorgan's brightest pupils, to take part in a national competition.

The battle to find the Young Consumer of the Year kicks off in schools around the area. The top teams then fight it out to become local champions, before going on to represent the county at the Welsh heat. The successful contestants in that round will then go forward to the UK competition and compete at a national level.

Each regional winning team and their teacher will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Brighton, with two nights' accommodation, to take part in the national championships. The prize for the winning team is a computer and £1,000 for their school, plus gifts and cash for the students.

Last year, Llantwit Major Comprehensive stormed through the Vale schools contest, before being pipped at the post in the semi-finals of the Welsh heat.

The contest is organised by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and has been running for 18 years. Students aged 14-17 are invited to take part in teams of four (they must be under 18 on August 31, 2005). Teams face a wide range of consumer affairs-related questions, designed to make them aware of their rights as consumers and help them develop valuable life skills.

The competition is designed to build confidence and fulfil criteria covered in Business Studies and Personal and Social Education.

Vale Consumer education officer Rebecca Hinton said: "This is an extremely challenging competition and all schools who take part can be proud of their achievements.

"We hope to encourage local businesses to endorse this prestigious contest and support our young people's attempts to put the Vale on the map. We're looking for prizes for both schools and the teams, with an emphasis of the overall Vale winners."

Anyone wishing to get involved, either as a team or a sponsor, should call 01446 700111.