CTF Events for 16-19 year-olds

“Thought it was really helpful. We foster teenagers and will be sharing this with other carers. Simple, easy and helpful. And one 16 year old whose eyes are wide with delight! Thank you.” (Quote from feedback after a recent virtual event)

A key part of our general CTF recovery campaign is to provide a series of virtual events for any young person aged 16 and over and born in the UK from 1 September 2002. The events are specially designed for those who don’t know about their Child Trust Fund account, which is likely to be worth £1,000 or more.

During 2021 virtual events were organised on Zoom for audiences of young people, and were publicised in social media, schools, football clubs, local authorities and all channels likely to reach teenagers.

We periodically hold teachers’ event designed to help schools to run their own presentations: the next such virtual event will be shown here when scheduled.

This document contains all the information needed to run an event: a script, lots of typical Q&As and more detailed information as background to the videos.

Such a presentation starts with two short videos between which there’s a brief introduction and a typical poll question to assess general awareness of the account:

-     What is a ‘Child Trust Fund’ and why would there be one set up in my name?

-      How do I go about finding my account, and what can I do with it when I find it?

Then there’s a discussion session to welcome questions and comments.

The meeting will re-convenes to see a third short video: shown

-      How can I improve my money knowledge, so as to ensure that I make the best use of my money when I’m 18?

Then there’ll be a final poll question before the meeting finishes – in total, not much over half an hour.

The whole purpose is to help young people find their accounts: there is no charge of any kind. The events can be professionally managed and recorded.

CTF search arrangements focus on The Share Foundation’s https://findCTF.sharefound.org facility, and we encourage all those interested – e.g. teachers, CTF account providers, and local authority representatives  - to take part in each event, and to consider helping as CTF Ambassadors. Young people who take part are encouraged to spread the information about Child Trust Funds and financial awareness as widely as possible among their contemporaries, and encourage them to join an event themselves.