Young Watchdogs in action

Young watchdogs bite back against rip-offs

A special initiative that will help stop young consumers being ripped-off and treated like second class citizens will take-off next week.

Staffordshire's County Council is launching it's Young Watchdog Forum on Thursday July 27.

The Watchdog Scheme is a network of local people who act as the eyes and ears of Trading Standards, receiving training and information and helping out with projects.

The Scheme includes 85 young people from across Staffordshire who will be invited to meet together for the first time in Rugeley.

The young Watchdogs will be working with Trading Standards Officers to identify and investigate ways in which they feel they are being ripped off.

The forum comes after a peer research project run in Sir Graham Balfour High School found that 74 per cent of young people felt they were treated worse than adults by retailers. The research, which was undertaken by pupils in the 6^th Form of the school, alongside Millennium Volunteers and Trading Standards asked 142 young people how they were treated in shops. Comments included,

"Some shops speak to you differently - like they think you're stupid"
"Certain places don't give you respect and can't be bothered trying to sort out any issues"
"They don't trust us- they think we've caused the fault"
"Some people think we only go in shops to steal"

Councillor Sandra Hambleton, Cabinet Support Member for Consumer Services, said: "Young consumers have the same rights as adults and it's important that they feel these rights are being acknowledged.

"The young watchdog scheme is a great opportunity for young people to get involved in putting things right, and we are very grateful to all our volunteers for their time and input."

If anyone under the age of 18 would like to attend the forum, which will be held at the Talbot Street Youth Centre in Rugeley on Thursday July 27 between 10am and 1pm, they should contact Cath or Gemma on 01785 277835 or e-mail cath.wohlers@staffordshire.gov.uk. Young consumers in Staffordshire can visit www.no-ur-rites.com for advice and information on their consumer rights.

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:05:02

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