education-pack for teachers
The Financial Ombudsman Service has a special education resource-pack available for teachers and educational workers – providing key information for younger people about the role of the ombudsman in resolving disputes.
The resource-pack includes:
top tips for complaining [PDF opens in new window]
"what is an ombudsman?" - how a Swedish word first used in 1809 is now recognised globally [PDF opens in new window]
"settling financial disputes without taking sides" [PDF opens in new window]
This new educational resource was launched at the 2008 Education Show at the NEC Birmingham – see coverage in the Times Educational Supplement [PDF opens in new window] and Education Today [PDF opens in new window].
The initiative builds on the outreach work the ombudsman service has already launched with younger people, who have a lower general awareness of their consumer rights (including their right to use the ombudsman).
[stuck? ... smooth landing? ... first time? ... feel small? ... misunderstood? – youth campaign posters open in PDF format]
Working with teachers and youth workers has highlighted the value that these "trusted individuals" in the community place on the key life-skills that dispute-resolution involves – such as negotiation, problem-solving and communication.