LOCAL AM VOICES SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL WRITING COMPETITION

NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, is calling on teenagers from across Monmouthshire to take part in a thought provoking writing competition.

This fun competition, organised by financial education charity the ifs School of Finance, is open to any UK resident aged between 14 and 19.

The competition enables teenagers to test their writing skills by writing a 1,000 word article with the headline: "Should Government encourage home ownership?"

As well as the title "ifs Young Business Writer of the Year", the winner will also receive a £500 cash prize.

Every year the ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition is judged by a business or finance journalist from a leading broadsheet newspaper. Past judges include Robert Cole from The Times and James Daley from The Independent. This year Peter Taylor, City Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, will judge the competition.

Peter will be awarding marks for demonstrating research, evaluation, analysis and written argument skills as well as for overall reporting style.

Speaking today local AM Nick said; "The ifs competition is a really exciting opportunity for young people. As well as helping to improve writing standards in general; it assists in fostering an interest in business and finance and also encourages students to think about what is a very important issue, especially given the current economic climate.

"I therefore hope that 14-19 year olds right across Monmouthshire will participate in the competition and wish them every success in doing so."

Anne Kiem, Dean of Further Education at the ifs School of Finance, said "We very much welcome the support of local Assembly Member Nick Ramsay in highlighting the educational benefits of this competition.

ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition has a thought provoking and highly topical question. It will be very interesting to see the different views young people have about home ownership as well as the Government's role in encouraging this."

Anyone aged between 14 and 19 who wishes to enter the competition simply has to e-mail their article (which must not exceed 1,000 words) to ybwy@ifslearning.ac.uk between now and the competition closing date of Monday 26 January 2009.

For more information please visit www.financialcapability.co.uk