Inbetweeners’ debts spark call for financial education

LEADING debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has warned that a large number of 18 and 19 year old “inbetweeners” are starting adult life in serious debt.  A total of 753 young people aged 18 and 19 contacted CCCS in 2010, seeking advice on how to deal with an average of £2,254 in unsecured debt. For those who had overdraft debt, the average amount owed was £671, for those who had a personal loan, the average borrowed was £2,610, and for those who had credit card debt, the average outstanding balance was £898.  The charity is concerned by the proportion of 18 and 19 year olds who blame lack of budgeting for their debt problems, which is twice that for CCCS clients overall. In 2010, 1 in 10 clients in this age group cited a lack of budgeting as the main cause of their debt problem, compared to five percent of clients across all age groups. The charity says that these figures underline the need for financial education to be added to the school curriculum. CCCS recently gave its backing to an e-petition, launched by moneysavingexpert.com the founder Martin Lewis, who is calling for financial education to be made compulsory in schools. The charity’s director of external affairs Delroy Corinaldi said:- "These figures show how quickly young people can fall into debt in the first few years of adult life. While financial education is not a silver bullet, it is essential that we give young people the tools to be able to make informed decisions about their finances – both to help them avoid falling into debt, and to help them out of it if they do. We also need to get across the message that free, non-judgmental help is available if you fall into financial difficulty - and with several debt charities offering free advice and support, there should never be a reason to pay for it."

SEFTON GREEN FAYRE

FOLLOWING on from last year’s successful Green Fayre in Southport’s Hesketh Park, Transition Southport will once again be providing an entertaining and informative eco event in September 2011.  The Sefton Green Fayre will take place at Old Christ Church, Waterloo Road, Waterloo L22 1RE, on Saturday, 17 September 2011, from 10.30AM to 5 PM. Entry is free to the public.

The huge and impressive Victorian church with wonderful stained glass, pink sandstone tower and striking interior, has become a popular venue for markets, exhibitions and other community events. It is a short walk from Waterloo Station and bus routes, and has parking in the grounds. For more information, see:- oldchristchurch.tripod.com.

Southport Transition's chair Mike Smithson said:- "This event aims to showcase the diversity of the local green movement. We hope to include local conservation groups, renewable energy companies, fair trade companies, a mini Farmers Market, as well as a Health and Well Being section where people can enjoy free pampering sessions such as massages."

Local eco businesses such as The Soap Corner, Aloe Angel, O’Naturelle, Wikaniko, and Jess Whitehead will be strutting their stuff, with the chance to buy green products such as cleaners and cosmetics. Sreepur Village Bangladesh and the Fair Trade Store will be selling hand-made goods, with some imaginative items made from recycled materials. Local companies Alter-Native Solutions and NWPL will be showcasing their renewable technologies. Organic food businesses including Riverford Organic, LouiseLovesFood, Barnetts Wholefoods and Veggies to Grow, which has just been short-listed in 3 categories of the Selnet Enterprise in Society Awards, will be in the grounds with produce, chicken coops and instant veggie patches.

Lancashire, Manchester &N. Merseyside Wildlife Trust and Cumbria Wildlife Trust will be attending and eco campaign groups Sustrans, Southport and Liverpool Friends of the Earth, Campaign for Rural England and The Green Party will also have a presence. Some of the stallholders will also be providing children’s activities, there will be sounds from our planet playing inside the church throughout the day and refreshments will be available. All senses will be stimulated!

All information regarding stallholders can be viewed online .  also anyone who would like to book a stall appropriate for this eco event is asked to immediately contact Mike Smithson on:- 01704 560745 or via email:- mikesmithson40@hotmail.co.uk.

‘RACE TO LIVERPOOL’ TO DECIDE P1 SUPERSTOCK AND AQUA X TITLES

WITH only days to go from the hugely exciting Cowes Grand Prix of the Sea, the stars of the P1 SuperStock Championship are busy preparing for the grand finale of the ‘Race to Liverpool’ which takes place over 10 September to 11 September 2011.

Based at the impressive Albert Dock on the River Mersey, the final round of the season for the UK’s top powerboat racers is set to be a truly spectacular event with both the P1 250 Panther and P1 150 class titles still up for grabs.

Off the back of last weekend’s visit to the Isle of Wight, the Pertemps crew of John Wilson (Coleshill, Birmingham) and Neil Scarborough (Monks Risborough) lead the way at the top of the P1 250 table, 21 points ahead of star rookie Team 88 – Simon Bayles (Battersea) and Phillipa Baker (Kensington).

Despite a troublesome race in Cowes, in which Pertemps led comfortably before a throttle problem required Wilson to clamber onto the back of the boat to try and make a mid-race repair, the 2010 P1 150 champions have high hopes of claiming the inaugural P1 250 crown just over a week from now.

"We made a great start and were leading into the first mark. Being in the rough water though meant the throttle was being exercised continuously to balance the boat – after we had done about 20 miles of the 45 mile course the throttle linkage came apart. At first we couldn’t work out what had happened as the engine was still running but with no throttle response. The engine wouldn’t reset so we then had to investigate further, I had to climb onto the back of the boat and when I got the engine cover off I could see the throttle link had come apart. I managed to get it all back together and we got going again so we could complete the race and clock up some points. Now, we’re going to Liverpool with a very good chance of clinching the P1 250 Championship, we can’t wait." explains Wilson reflecting on Cowes.

Team 88 has enjoyed a sensational debut year in powerboats and with 40 points in total up for grabs in Liverpool, it’s not unthinkable Bayles and Baker could pull off a massive upset. That said, they’re only currently three points ahead of the Peters & May boat which raced to success in Cowes in the hands of Darren Hook (Wadhurst, East Sussex) and David John Harwood (London).

Fourth in the P1 250 standings is Edox, piloted by Rupert Pugh (Matlock, Derbyshire) and navigated by Anthony Crossley (Sidmouth, Devon). Unfortunately a heavy landing early in the Cowes-Poole-Cowes encounter led to injury for Crossley so Pugh wasted no time in immediately retiring from the race.

In P1 150, Team Purple – Stuart and Sara Cureton (Lindford, Hampshire) – has a 22 point cushion over the Eclipse entry of Rose Lores (Stubbington, Hampshire) having inherited victory in Cowes when Rose and 17 year old rookie navigator Lucci Levi (Cowes) incurred a time penalty for missing a marker buoy while embroiled in a fantastically close battle with Team Fox.
The Jersey crew of Martin Colligan (St Helier) and Liam McDermott (St Helier) also received a similar time penalty post-race so the final order was Purple from Eclipse and Fox. Just four points are all that separate Eclipse and Team Fox so the final 2 races of the year should be classics.

In addition to the P1 SuperStock powerboat racing, the action-packed AquaX Championship will contest its final two races of the year after an exciting weekend of jet-skiing in Cowes. Russell Marmon (Christchurch, Dorset) and Duncan Johnstone (Fareham, Hampshire) sealed the Elite 300 and AM 200 class titles respectively on the Isle of Wight but the AM 300 crown can still go one of 3 ways.

Would you like to be on ITV1's biggest, newest and most exciting game show?

THE makers of a brand new prime time game show are looking for pairs of fun, outgoing people from all across the UK. You can team up with a friend, colleague or relative for the chance to win some very big money.   Do you both possess good general knowledge? Do you work well under pressure and more importantly can you work together to claim the big prize? 

If your answer is "YES", then the shows production team  wants to hear from you!  Nationwide auditions will begin in October 2011, so please get in touch now…    For an application go to the shows website  or send an email.*

** ITV and the program makers will only use your information for the purpose of selecting contestants for the programme. Applicants must be 18 years of age and over. You must be resident in the UK. Closing date October 24. For terms and conditions go to:- itv.com/terms