The educational sessions, which run under the umbrella programme ‘Talkingshop’ are delivered on-line and in real time by Trading Standards consumer, financial literacy and cyber-crime experts. 

 

The programmes cover:

 

Financial Literacy, including:

• Opening a bank account
• Student accommodation and living away from home
• Payday and other high interest loans
• Budgeting
• Credit and debt
• Contracts (for example for mobile phones)
• Store cards 
• Priority loans

Consumer Rights, including: 

• Your statutory consumer rights
• Returning damaged and mis-described items
• Buying your first car
• Your rights in a sale
• Shopping from home
• Buying on auction websites

Cyber Crime, including:

• Safe shopping on-line
• Online- banking 
• Social media safety
• Protecting your PC

 

The sessions are aimed at students in years 7 to 13 and can be amended to meet the specific requirements of the school.

 

The sessions can be run to fit in with a school’s timetable. Each session can accommodate up to approximately 30-40 students working in teams of two or three in an IT suite.

 

The students log on to a secure web based application using a unique web address and the Trading Standards experts share a Power Point Presentation with them. 

 

The application allows the Trading Standards staff to communicate with the students in real time as they progress through the Powerpoint. Students answer questions posed and responses are provided in real-time by the experts.

 

The experts can also set poll questions for students to answer.

 

Teachers receive a copy of the answers provided by students and the feedback from Trading Standards experts at the conclusion of the session.

 

Talkingshop remains a free service available to all Warwickshire schools, including academies.

 

For more information, please contact Simon Cripwell, Trading Standards Officer on 01926 738987 or email: simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Please view the flyer here for more information