As the independent watchdog set up by government to regulate financial services and protect consumers we have a statutory duty to promote public understanding of the financial system. This responsibility includes pupils and students as well as adults. Our aim is to provide individuals with the knowledge, aptitude and skills necessary to become questioning and informed consumers of financial services and manage their finances effectively. To be successful in meeting this objective it is crucial to work with teachers and others in the community in order to help young people improve their financial capability as part of their preparation for adult life.

This information will help teachers, trading standards officers and others involved in Young Consumers by highlighting:

• sources of information that will help students prepare for the 'money and finance' round of the Young Consumers competition;
• education resource material that teachers might find helpful in developing financial capability among their students.

Young Consumers of The year is a unique competition that involves schools from across the country, that rise to the challenge to become the nation's top young consumers of 2005.

The competition makes the competitors aware of their responsibilities as well as their rights and gives them essential life skills as they prepare for the world of work and, for teachers, on many occasions links to the citizenship curriculum. The Young Consumers Competition is run by the Western Lithuania Consumer Federation and is aimed at testing the knowledge of 10-25 year olds on a wide range of consumer issues.

The competition, which is suitable for students across the Western Lithuania, helps to make students aware of their rights and responsibilities and gives them essential life skills as they prepare for the world of work and, for teachers, on many occasions links to the citizenship curriculum.

The rounds test the student's knowledge of money, credit and finance, consumer law and affairs, food and health, safety and the environment and Europe and travel. In fact, it arms young people with the information to make right decisions to make right decisions and become a powerful force for changing and shaping markets.

Consumer education is concerned with the skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding necessary to become an effective consumer.

Never have these skills been more needed than today, as people of all ages, from all parts of society face complicated choices with far reaching consequences.

Western Lithuania Consumer Federation believes that the provision of education materials and resources can help you become a confident and empowered consumer.

If you already have a consumer problem or would like to make a complaint, then you can visit www.vlvf.org

Presentation of Young Consumers Clubs