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Literacy rates for young people have improved significantly over the past fifteen years, following Tony Blair's call for 'Education, Education, Education'; with technical development now rising in importance, we must ensure that it holds onto the priority attached to literacy. Meanwhile Government departments, including HMRC, must ensure that their communications are accessible to all — this includes the initiative to write to young adults at 21 to tell them about their Child Trust Funds. Background music: 'Hovering Thoughts' by Spence.

In response to Andy Burnham's invitation to join his cross-party working group on overhauling social care arrangements throughout the United Kingdom, Sir Ed Davey called for diversity while Kemi Badenoch said it mustn't increase public spending. However there are other deep questions to answer as well: such as how to prepare people better for old age; will they be prepared to seize the opportunity to end universality and focus on targeted support, including for health care; and whether they can bring in a new focus on inter-generational rebalancing? Background Music: 'Young And Old Know Love' by Puddle of Infinity.

The young owners of over two-thirds of all Child Trust Funds reach adulthood at the end of March 2026, but very large numbers of HMRC-allocated accounts remain unknown and unclaimed, including almost three-quarters of the £1 billion belonging to low-income young adults: the position is particularly acute in the north of England and devolved nations. These are accounts for which HM Treasury/HMRC are the 'settlor', and therefore have a duty to deliver these young adults' birthrights. Background music: 'Waiting' by Andrew Langdon 

After years of stagnant sales and plummeting prices…is the housing market about to take off again? Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss what's going with property values and hunt for green shoots of recovery. Some of Britain's biggest banks are offering far better savings rates under different brands. We look at where the deals are hiding and how much more you could earn. Crane is back on the case — this time, she resolves a reader problem with an £11,500 heat pump. It left some rooms at just 12°C – and their energy bills went up. A-level results day was this week — do the younger generation need to go to university? We talk about the pressures facing school leavers and why a degree isn't the only route to a successful career, running through best apprenticeships and jobs that don't require a degree.

‘Spider-Man’ and ‘The Odyssey’ continue to dominate the box office, says James Cameron-Wilson. On only in Picturehouse cinemas is the French/Luxembourgish film ‘Love Me Tender’. About a lawyer leaving her marriage, finding her sexuality while trying to keep contact with her son, it feels very real and has one of the year's best performances. It really stays with you and is highly recommended. Survival thriller ‘The Last House’ is on Netflix. If it's rain you're after, it has it aplenty. James became enormously invested and found it very suspenseful, helped by great acting. On BFI Player the documentary ‘Lesvia’ reminded him of old travelogues. Sweet and affectionate, it's also terribly niche. He also caught up with the BBC adaptation of Michael Frayn's play ‘Copenhagen’ with Stephen Rea and Daniel Craig on iPlayer. It dovetails into ‘Oppenheimer’ and so many other things.

Steve Caplin says that although Meta sold 7 million pairs of their smart glasses last year, there's a massive backlash against them. The AI Claude is to have readable watermarks embedded so that you can tell if it was used or not. A human ChatGPT has had to suspend operations because he proved too popular. An undersea cable has been forced to relocate by Harry Potter fans. There are shirts with built-in fans though Steve was more impressed with a rechargeable Ali Express fan costing a fiver or less. He was not convinced by a crowdfunded, self-playing guitar, reckoning that it was taking the complexity of 3D printing too far.

If you've started losing weight but are now finding that all that eating control and exercise is not generating as much of a result as you'd expect, this episode will provide some help and reassurance to move off that plateau. It uses the metaphor of a travelator moving the wrong way, as if to make you mark time but not progress, and Adam Cox helps you to look forward to re-establishing that momentum of weight loss that you've started.

Demand for AI is exploding and two companies — OpenAI and Anthropic — are driving the industry forward. Everything from hyperscalers to neoclouds to memory stocks are hanging on the demand for tokens they need. We discuss that demand, how debt got involved, and what could go wrong. Plus, what sports franchise would you buy? Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Jason Moser discuss AI IPO Setup, insatiable demand, debt gets involved, restaurant recovery?, buying a franchise and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: Quantum Computing (QUBT), Firefly (FLY), Alphabet (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), SpaceX (SPCX). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Jason Moser

Lost in the commotion of earnings season, Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince made an extraordinary claim about how internet traffic is changing at an exponential rate, motivating Jon to ask Matt and Tyler to dissect the news and look for investment opportunities. The trio also discusses the latest news in the mining industry as well as Intel’s latest equity sale. Jon Quast, Matt Frankel, and Tyler Crowe discuss Agentic AI internet traffic surpassing human traffic, the investment opportunities if agentic traffic increases exponentially, the government’s investment in mining education, whether there are buying opportunities for mining stocks, and why Intel is raising cash. Companies discussed: Cloudflare (NET), GE Vernova (GEV), Quanta Services (PWR), Intel (INTC), Alphabet (GOOG)(GOOGL), Oracle (ORCL). Host — Jon Quast; Guests — Matt Frankel, Tyler Crowe.

National Financial Awareness Day was celebrated last week — and new research from the Money and Pensions Service suggests that millions of people across the UK are still struggling to keep up with their bills. The findings come from MoneyView, MaPS’ flagship annual survey of the nation’s finances, which shows wide variation across different parts of the UK. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss the findings, and where people can turn for help, is Victoria Copeland from the Money and Pensions Service.

Opportunities for young people seem increasingly sparse these days. In the post-COVID era of AI tools and austerity, a whole generation of young people find themselves less desired in the workforce than ever before. Despite high demand for apprenticeships, a shortage of entry-level vacancies is forcing them into university or unrelated work at best, and jobless and demoralised at worst. Here to discuss this increasingly desperate labour problem is Jonathan Bourne, Chief Executive Officer at Damar Training.

Results day has been and gone, and for thousands of students, Clearing will now decide where they will spend the next few years. There's a growing argument that what matters most isn't just landing a place; it's landing one that leaves you genuinely ready for work and a successful future. My guest for this episode works at a university that builds a credit-bearing work placement into every single degree. Zoe Mason and Gemma Kay from the University of Wolverhampton are here to explain.

For the final Bigger Picture with Simon Rose, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks back over the past twelve years of the programme. Into the good category, he places the advances in technology in areas like medicine, the digital world and the AI revolution. This will give a huge uplift to developing countries. As to the bad, that would include the polarisation of political life as the state hollows itself out from the inside. with taxes at an all-time high and services getting ever worse. Tim highlights the number of people under 40 abandoning the NHS, who believe they won't get a state pension for them and who see their future not in Britain but abroad. The ugly is the ever increasing indebtedness of the world's most advanced democracies and the rising authoritarianism which threatens the underpinning of our open society.

Professor Tim Evans says that to understand Donald Trump, you need to know that, in the late 80s and early 90s, he was a close friend of Richard Nixon, who told him that he used the persona of an irrational madman to unsettle others. Indeed, Nixon and his wife urged Trump to enter politics. In terms of policy, Trump is also a devotee of Reagan and William McKinley, an advocate of tariffs in America's interests. The Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the most important constitutional positions in Britain. In an increasingly secular age, the new Archbishop will have a challenging task ahead, but Tim feels that she is the right person for the job. The issue of Net Zero has come to the fore in the midst of an energy crisis like the 1970s. Tim ponders the politics of it, wondering if it could become as divisive as Brexit.

Pensions and inheritance are at the forefront of many people's minds ahead of the Budget. In her last Budget, Rachel Reeves announced she will pull pension pots into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. Meanwhile, there are concerns that pension tax-free lump sums and inheritance tax allowances could fall victim to another raid as the Chancellor tries to balance the books again. In this special episode of the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct Advice and Guidance. Lisa spends her days helping customers understand how to protect their wealth, make their pension last in retirement and, importantly, enjoy their hard-earned money. She discusses with Simon the questions people are asking right now about pensions and inheritance tax and her answers.

The world is facing a myriad of Gordian Knots at present — problems so intricate and complex that they need new and very different approaches to solve them. In Greek mythology, it was Alexander the Great who chopped the knot rather than struggling to untie it. If you're facing a raft of complex problems, this episode could help you find novel and creative ways to solve them. So, think of the most challenging things in your life and listen in for inspiration. Maybe Donald Trump should seek Adam Cox's guidance for resolving conflicts across the world, or the UN for dealing with climate change — or Governments across western democracies seeking an answer for intractable debt problems? Image: Wikipedia

For the 500th show, Steve Caplin takes a look back at some of the highlights of ten years of Gadgets & Gizmos. He covers sprayable sleep, cows imitating zebras to ward off mosquitoes, crows collecting cigarette butts, NFTs, self-parking slippers, KFC chicken-tasting nail polish, the first human head transplant, the Skunklock noxious bike lock, Refrigerdating, the robot dog flamethrower, ant populated gin and how to make pain relief pills 10 times more effective.

James Cameron-Wilson reports on box office -13% but still up on 2024, with ‘Wicked’ becoming last year's most successful film with £59.6m. The musical biopic of Bob Dylan, ‘A Complete Unknown’, with Timothy Chalomet and Edward Norton is the new #1. The tedious and unbelievable ‘Wolf Man’ limps in at #7. James found Netflix's spy thriller ‘Back in Action’, the return from retirement of Cameron Diaz, all very silly and over the top, despite some good stunts. The Oscar nominations were coming out during recording, so James gives his first thoughts on who's in and who's out.

Warren Buffett sends us into the season to be thankful with his philanthropic acts and his poignant words, and gives us all a place to start the conversation with family about money. Asit Sharma and Dylan Lewis discuss NBC’s negotiations to extend their rights to broadcast rights to the Macy’s Day Parade, and why holiday live events are turning into an arms race, the expectations for Black Friday through Cyber Monday, and two predictions on the direction of consumer spend and who will be driving it in future years, and Warren Buffett’s plans for passing his wealth on to his family and philanthropic efforts, and the words of wisdom we should all have in mind as we get together with loved ones this week. Companies discussed: CMCSA, M, NFLX, AMZN, BRK.A, BRK.B. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Asit Sharma

The debate on 19th March 2024 was hosted by Sir Jeremy Quin MP to call for the need to simplify family access to Child Trust Funds for disabled young people, and a number of MPs contributed to the debate, including Danny Kruger and Ed Davy. The audio record is provided by Parliament Live, and is an unabridged recording of proceedings, without additional comment. Listeners may notice an adjournment for voting in the House of Commons.

Welcome to a special episode of The Financial Outlook: the investment section of the Managing My Money course. What's the difference between saving and investment? It's all in the risk. We talk about shares, bonds and funds, and which perform best over the long term. The Managing My Money course has 16 sections in total, and is presented by Glen Goodman and Annie Weston. You can enjoy the whole course, produced in association with the Open University via Share Radio's home page. Here's the link to the slides for this episode: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/help-guides/managing-my-money/supporting-slides/mmm-week-5-episode-10-supporting-slides/

“The [Child Trust Fund] scheme has been closed to new entrants for over 12 years. In this time HMRC has been focusing resources on evaluating and improving existing schemes. We will continue to keep the need to evaluate old schemes under review.” So said Andrew Griffith MP, Economic Secretary to HM Treasury in reply to a parliamentary question from John Ashworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. But this is not an 'old scheme' — there is currently over £1.7 billion sitting in mature accounts belonging to over 900,000 mainly low-income young adults throughout the UK who don't know anything about their good fortune! Their Child Trust Fund harvest is seeing too little action at present: but it's not too late to get it sorted, and the current focus from the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee will certainly help.
Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero

It’s the last episode of Answers (but don’t worry, we’re just moving to Motley Fool Money every Tuesday). We’ll reminisce on our biggest lessons learned over the last seven years and answer your questions, some financial, some festive.

Scrooge has made the deal of his life with Chinese investors and must now quickly return to London on Christmas Eve to close the deal. On the flight back, during a fitful sleep, Scrooge confronts his past and present and learns the future consequences of his miserly life to find the true meaning of Christmas. Proscenium Online Theatre is super excited to be bringing you a whole new season of audio dramas in 2022. Starting off with 'The Girl in the Yellow Dress', a dark romance by South African playwright Craig Higginson, and 'Plunder', an original Hong Kong based thriller by American playwright Alan Olejniczak. In the meantime - sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the Proscenium Online Theatre’s production of 'A Christmas Carol'.

https://www.prosceniumonlinetheatre.com

Imagine a world in which everyone has a stake in the great tech firms that serve them each day, and where dividends are gradually replacing wages to provide regular income for everyone, as work becomes scarcer as a result of automation? Imagine a world where every young person not only has a small inheritance with which to start their adult life, but also the opportunity to build its value by learning life skills? Simon Rose is taking a well-earned break this week, so we’re taking the opportunity to bring you a talk given Gavin Oldham in August to the leading City of London think-tank Z/Yen.

Click link for slides for presentation

Every child in the UK born between 1 Sept 2002 and 2 Jan 2011 has a Child Trust Fund (CTF). But one child in six has lost contact with the money. Gavin Oldham, Chairman of The Share Foundation – which runs the Junior ISA & Child Trust Fund schemes for children in care for the Department for Education - is trying to re-connect them. He talks through the CTF, how to track an account down, and what a child can and can’t do with the money.

In a new partnership with publishers Harriman House, Share Radio has produced its first audiobook 'Superinvestors', written by Matthew Partridge and read by some of Share Radio's best known presenters. 'Superinvestors' lays bare the investing secrets of legendary investors - from early 20th-century figures such as Benjamin Graham and John Maynard Keynes, through to more modern names such as Anthony Bolton and Warren Buffett.

How you can help young people in care prepare for adult life by supporting The Share Foundation’s ‘Stepladder of Achievement’ programme.

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