The Consumer Challenge Quiz  - a major success story for Birmingham

The Birmingham Assay Office is proud to be a sponsor of the successful Consumer Challenge Quiz, an event for teenagers with special needs organised by Birmingham Trading Standards.

The event celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year and has won a special award from the European Commission for the most original consumer campaign in Europe for 2007.

The Consumer Challenge Quiz was devised by Birmingham Trading Standards to help vulnerable children with special needs become more confident consumers. Targeted at students aged  from 13 to 18 preparation for the quiz helps to raise their awareness of a wide range of subjects including consumer issues, personal finances, the environment, safety issues, healthy eating and other topic areas which reflect on life skills in general.

Birmingham Trading Standards started the Quiz on a small scale in an effort to involve local teenagers with special needs in consumer issues.  The first quiz was at Hallmoor School and over 10 years the event has snowballed to include schools from 40 different Trading Standards Authorities throughout the country.

A total of 19 schools, including Wilson Stuart School from Birmingham, took part in the 2008 National Final held at the Trading Standards Institute Conference in Bournemouth last week. BBC Radio Four presenter Liz Barclay did a fantastic job as Question Master and the final winners were Aynsley School from Stoke- on- Trent.

The success of the Consumer Challenge Quiz is a result of the strong support of Birmingham City Council and the dedication of the organisers.  Councillor Neil Eustace of the Public Protection Committee is actively involved in the event and delighted with its rapid growth, which has exceeded all expectations.

Councillor Eustace voices the enthusiasm of all the team when he says “The quiz can literally be a life changing experience for the contestants. It inevitably improves their confidence, self-esteem and team-working skills but it can go much further than that.  We have seen examples where children have really surprised their own parents with their ability and new found confidence and we feel we are genuinely making a difference and opening up opportunities for some of our contestants.”

Marion Wilson, Sales & Marketing Director of The Birmingham Assay Office says, “It is a privilege to be involved in the Consumer Challenge. The physical practicalities of transporting teams of teenagers with special needs around the country and arranging hotel accommodation and the necessary supervision are a challenge in themselves.  The obvious dedication of the organisers, teachers and carers is inspiring.  The Final is seriously competitive but everyone has a good time. We are very pleased to support Birmingham Trading Standards in this Event."