South Ayrshire Council News

Cllr Convery and Advice Centre Team Leader Steven McMurtrie during the buzzer quiz with pupils from Ayr Academy.

South Ayrshire Council recently held its Open Days for Schools in the Trading Standards Office in River Terrace, in Ayr. Officers provided interactive talks and displays highlighting the work of the Council to over a hundred local secondary school pupils.

This is an annual event where the Council invite groups of pupils from South Ayrshire secondary schools along for talks and displays to showcase the work of the Council and educate young consumers.

This year the areas covered included; a consumer and general knowledge buzzer quiz; educational talks on product safety and testing (including live product testing from the Public Analyst); interactive advice on underage sales and the risks of using fake ID; advice on avoiding buying fakes online from scam websites; and an informative presentation by Council environmental health officers.

Pupils who attended answered questions on the various sections winning prizes, including a DS Console donated by the gaming software protection body - The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, and a complimentary pair of home match tickets donated by Ayr United.

Commenting on the event Councillor Peter Convery, Sustainability and the Environment Portfolio Holder said: "I am always delighted to attend the Council open days and witness first hand the breadth of services that our Council deliver. The pupils always find the days fun and informative and it's clear to me that it fits in nicely with the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence to ensure our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

"The event provides an excellent opportunity for the Council to educate young consumers on the important areas of their work while at the same supporting the pupils to become knowledgeable about their rights and obligations. Informed and confident young consumers are a vital element of a successful local economy. Consumers who know their rights can avoid the scams, fakes and bad practices. In doing so they also allow legitimate businesses to flourish."