Shani scoops top competition prize

Shani Owen scooped £500 worth of vouchers for her academy, and an all-expenses paid trip to London for herself and her family, after her story about debt won first place in the My Money Week initiative.

Shani, a former student of Yewlands Academy and now in the sixth form at Chapeltown Academy, was one of only five secondary school finalists and admits she was “very emotional” on finding out she was the overall winner.

“I entered the competition because I realised that the given topic of debt would allow me to share with a number of people a story of my own personal experience, which may give them hope and reassurance,” she said.

“It also gave my mum the recognition she deserves for all she has done for me throughout my life.

“When I discovered I had won the competition, I was overcome with emotion and my eyes filled with tears. I was thrilled that someone else looking at my article had been able to see just how much my mum’s determination and resilience meant to me.”

The annual competition, organised by Young Enterprise, aims to improve children’s financial literacy across the UK and has the support of money saving expert Martin Lewis OBE. Shani travelled to London with mum Tina, her grandma, sister, and teacher, Helen Deighton, where she was presented with her award by Sharon Davies, the CEO of Young Enterprise during a ceremony at the British Museum, where her article will be displayed.