New board game highlights consumer issues

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards has launched a new consumer education board game to help youngsters learn about the issues in a fun way.
The bilingual game, Dianc o'r Storm/Escape the Storm, was launched in Llannon Primary School.
Escape the Storm is a pioneering new multi-purpose Consumer Education tool of five standard size boards - each one can be played by up to six individuals.
Players must follow a spiralling path from the centre of the board (the storm) out to the edge (the sun).
As they move forward they will land on question spaces or exclamation spaces and another player must read out the corresponding card.
The exclamation cards will describe a real-life situation that will have either a positive of negative outcome. The player will get to move backwards or forwards a space, depending on that outcome.
The question cards: the play can roll again if they answer the question correctly.
The questions and situations described on the exclamation spaces can be amended to suit any age group of players, including adults.
Also they can be based on consumer law in general or be specific to one area of consumer education (including but not limited to: financial education; buying specific types of goods or services eg cars, utility providers, holidays etc; online shopping; scams and so on).
The game was first used in Llannon in conjunction with the Money Sense/Synnwyr Arian course and tested what the students had learned through the money sense lessons. It was very well received by the pupils and there was great feedback from teachers and parents.
There is also an alternative version of the game, a large board (3m by 3m) that can be used outdoors - players walk along the spaces rather than using counters.
Llannon Primary School headteacher Marie Langabeer said: “The pupils thoroughly enjoyed playing the game! It developed co-operation and team-thinking skills as well as testing their understanding of Money Sense. I would like to thank the staff for their dedication and hard work.”
Trading Standards Service Manager Roger Edmunds said: “It is a novel way of learning about important issues in a fun, light-hearted manner.”
Head of public protection Philip Davies said: “It will be a very useful tool for introducing children to important issues in an enjoyable way.”
Executive board member Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Escape the Storm looks like a lot of fun and an excellent way of getting the message across. I’m delighted that it has proved so popular with pupils, teachers and parents.”
For further information on Escape the Storm contact Trading Standards at tradingstandards@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or 01554 742249.