THE success of the first Jersey Consumer Council fair could lead to it becoming an annual event, the organisation’s chair has said.
More than 400 Islanders attended the Town Hall over the weekend for the event, which marked the 30th anniversary of the Jersey Consumer Council and brought together more than 20 consumer-focused organisations to offer talks and advice to the public on their rights as consumers.
The free two-day event assisted individuals with advice on several issues, including debt struggles, scamming concerns and cost-saving measures to help tackle the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Participants included Trading Standards, Citizens Advice, Enable Jersey, Highlands College, States of Jersey Police, the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner, LibertyBus, Jersey Fire and Rescue, and the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority, among others.
JCC chair Carl Walker said the event facilitated “really meaningful interactions” between services and the public.
“Rather than it being just one of these things where people walk around and pick up a leaflet or a free key ring, Islanders could actually sit down to talk to people,” he said.
“They could explain their actual problem and get it sorted, or get themselves on the path to getting it sorted, there and then.”
Due to the level of demand, he confirmed that the Consumer Council is hoping to make the fair an annual event, although dates and future locations are yet to be finalised.
Mr Walker said the Consumer Council would like to hear from those who attended with any comments about the event and how it could be improved in future and encouraged those people to share views by emailing contact@consumercouncil.je.
