|
STUDENTS GO FROM SCRUFFY TO SELF-SUFFICIENT
WITHDRAWALS
from the bank of Mum and Dad are grinding to a halt as students pay
their own way through university. According to a new study by
leading local grocer, Somerfield, 40% of students are standing on
their own 2 feet and working their way through uni rather than
relying on their parents for handouts. Meanwhile, 11% rely on
their savings to get them through studying and 29% cite loans as
their primary source of income.
This adult approach to finance extends to spending – the image of
the scruffy, skint student is long gone as the average person spends
an estimated £221.90 a month on fashion, food and socialising. This
equates to a national total of £6.1 billion per year.
The chief pastimes for these savvy students are globetrotting
(favoured by 17%) and shopping sprees (23%), both outranking
traditional hobbies such as boozing (12%) and demonstrating (a mere
1%). Fine dining (5%) and experimenting in the kitchen (10%)
prove popular. In fact, modern students are far more likely to tuck
into a risotto or Thai green curry (40%) than a takeaway or ready
meal (34 and 11% respectively). The stereotype of the Pot
Noodle and baked beans diet has also been consigned to the past, the
dish ranking lowest in the list of preferred eats (6%).
Recognising its popularity amongst savvy students, Somerfield is the
1st local grocer to introduce a discount card for NUS members.
Students can now enjoy 5% of all purchases of food and drink at one
of Somerfield’s 141 participating stores. With 70% already
armed with retailer discount cards, students are saving £264.16 each
a year on food and drink. In fact, they enjoy the savings so much
that 42% will commit fraud by attempting to claim student discounts
after graduation.
Pete Williams, head of press and PR at Somerfield said:-
“Students have clearly wised up to money management with many more
taking charge of their finances. It seems that the multitude of
discounts on offer today are enabling a higher quality of life. 5%
off here and there can make a real difference.”
RUN
SOUTHPORT RACES TO HELP FUND CURE
THE
race is on to find local people who are prepared to run in next
year’s Southport Good Friday races and raise funds for a medical
research charity, as it continues to search for a cure for muscle
wasting diseases. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is asking readers
to enter the Southport races and to get sponsored for running.
In return, everyone who runs for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
will be able to claim some great sportswear rewards for the
sponsorship they raise and will also be sent a top quality running
vest to show their support for the charity.
Says Charles Horton, Regional Fundraising Manager for the charity:-
“We need as many people as possible to enter the Southport
Good Friday races and raise sponsorship if we are going to beat this
disease.
Even if you have already entered, but would like to run for
charity, we would like to hear from you.
It’s a great way to help
others and help yourself to keep fit.
People die from the effects of
muscular dystrophy every week in the UK.
Every second counts if we
are to give people with muscular dystrophy a chance in the future”.
The Southport races, which are 4 miles in length over a traffic-free
course in Victoria Park, take place on Friday March 21, 2008,
starting at 10.30am for ladies and 11.15am for men. There is also a
3k fun run starting at 10am.
To run in the race to raise funds
for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, call their Regional Office on
01244 403012 or email
charlesh@muscular-dystrophy.org.
|
LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TO GO FOR PUPILS TO ENTER THE SCHOOLS QUESTION
TIME CHALLENGE
ALL UK
secondary schools still have time to get their entries in to win a
chance to produce a BBC Question Time programme with David Dimbleby.
Students in secondary schools nationwide have less than 2 weeks to
enter the Schools Question Time Challenge and win a chance to work
with David Dimbleby to produce an edition of Question Time for BBC
ONE in 2008.
Now in its 4th year the competition has been a success within
schools, and involves pupils aged 14 to 18 staging their own debates
based upon the popular BBC Question Time format. Entering the
competition is easy, schools simply need to complete an online form
at
www.schoolsquestiontime.org
describing the issues they would discuss during their ideal Question
Time and the panel they would choose to discuss those issues. The
deadline to enter the Challenge is 18 January 2008.
From all the online entries 12 finalist schools will be selected and
given a £500 grant from the Institute for Citizenship, supported by
BT, which must be used to run their Schools Question Time events.
Each finalist school will also receive professional support in
staging the event by taking part in a Schools Question Time
communication skills workshop. A team of judges will travel to each
finalist school to evaluate their Question Time event and assess how
they applied the principles of citizenship. Four award winners will
be selected to collaborate with David Dimbleby and the Question Time
production team to produce a real BBC Question Time programme to be
broadcast in the summer of 2008 on BBC ONE. They will be involved in
all aspects of production, from making editorial decisions to
researching and taking on production roles for the programme.
David Dimbleby, Chairman of BBC Question Time commented:-
“Last year’s Schools Question Time Challenge demonstrated, once
again, that young people are passionate about politics when they are
given the opportunity to play their part in serious debate. Given
the rapidly changing environmental, economic, political and media
landscape, it is more important than ever that we involve young
adults and get their views and input into the decision making
process. The challenges that young people and future generations
face in all these areas are significant. Giving young adults a voice
on subject matters that affect them is vitally important and I look
forward to working with the winners of the current Challenge.”
Letters to the
Editor:- "Arts & Business North West statement about European
Capital of Culture"
"WE know from Glasgow 1990 how significant the role of the
private sector is in creating a strong and sustainable cultural
economy, through business investment and the commitment of time and
ideas.
Last year, the North West saw £9.8 million* brought to culture and
the arts from the private sector. This is a good figure and Arts &
Business North West is working hard to ensure that through Capital
of Culture this investment goes from strength to strength in the
future. New A&B figures, to be released shortly, indicate a
significant increase in the level of private investment in culture
in Liverpool. It is vital for the continued health of the cultural
sector that this private sector investment is continued and
increased
Increased private sector investment in culture will add to
Liverpool’s vibrant community and buoyant economy. We hope the
launch at St George’s Plateau, has started the year of cultural
celebrations has broght with it many years of creativity and talent
to come." Ian Sanders, Arts & Business North West.
*Data taken from Arts & Business annual Private Investment Survey 05
/ 06. Arts & Business Private investment Survey 06
/ 07 will be announced on 30 January 2008. |
