Introducing our newest members

Earlier this year we were thrilled to appoint two new Council members, Georgia Beard and Martha McLaughlin. Fresh ideas and views are always welcome at any organisation, but in our case we were particularly pleased as our newest volunteer recruits were sixth form students in Jersey.

Teenagers are often overlooked when we think of consumer issues in our Island, but they have as many rights as any of us, and that’s why it has been a long-held ambition of the Council to recruit some youngsters.

Hopefully this is just the beginning, with the hope that we may soon be able to form Jersey’s first Youth Consumer Council, which can feed into the Council itself.

Listening to their passion for getting a good deal, being treated fairly and with respect and how and why they make ethical choices when shopping for themselves was inspiring. But what struck me the most was the desire from these youngsters to shop locally, rather than online – you can read their thoughts on this subject here.

I, perhaps naively, always thought it would be the opposite. It could not be clearer that they want to spend their pocket money or part-time wages in local shops on things they can touch and feel, as well as enjoying the experience itself. This should not only be listened to by our government officials and officers in charge of the plans for attracting new businesses to St Helier, but embraced as, after all, they are our future.

If you are interested in consumer issues and would like to join the Council, please get in touch by emailing contact@consumercouncil.je or calling 611161.