9:00am Monday 17th October 2005
By Jenny Clarke
AS consumer credit spirals out of control and personal savings suffer, ex- teachers are helping students prepare for the financial and business minefield beyond school.
Half-term and holiday courses for schoolchildren, making money management and business development fun and engaging, are under way in the region.
Rachel Green and Nicky Ross, two former teachers and senior managers of the Woodside School, Walthamstow, are the people behind the scheme, known as YoungBiz.
While the Government plans for teaching on money matters at key stage 4 known as enterprise education to be included in curriculums from 2007, the YoungBiz team are pleased to have their courses running two years in advance.
Ms Ross said: "The world of finance has become far more complex over the years, even since I was at college, and students simply aren't prepared for the responsibilities and decisions associated with credit and financial management after school.
"Basically, they are let loose in a world of credit cards, loans and overdrafts, which we all know are so easy to come by these days, and pretty quickly they can get themselves into serious debt.
"Our three-day money course helps them understand that world and avoid the risks associated with it."
The other side of YoungBiz is the business course, also running for three days.
It is designed to help students recognise money-making ideas and have the confidence to get them off the ground.
According to Ms Green, students on the course can be sceptical at first but soon become hooked.
She said: "They do wonder to begin with why they're giving up their holidays for more work, but once we help them to understand they can get their ideas up and running straight away and start making money while they're still at school, they get motivated and really start enjoying things.
"The idea is to create financial awareness at an early age, not just in sixth formers ready to start work or university, but at a younger point so understanding is almost second nature by the time children reach school-leaving age."
YoungBiz is a franchise brought over from America. The team has adapted the format for the UK.
Courses are planned for the coming half term between October 24 and 26 at Woodford County High School, High Road, Woodford Green, and cost £180.
To register or for more information contact Nicky Ross on 07966 088193 or e-mail nickyross.essex@youngbizuk.co.uk
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