'Fun with Finance' half-term course for kids » Education » 24dash.com

Three professional women are launching a new set of courses for children that will throw light on a world in financial turmoil.

The Cool Head Company, run by three London women - an investment banker, a teacher and a World Bank development economist - will run its first course for children during the upcoming half-term holiday.

Titled "Fun with Finance", the five day course for children aged 9-13 will run at two venues in North West London: The Hall School, NW3 from 20 to 24 October; and Parliament Hill School, NW5 from 27 to 31 October. Future courses, including a new range of courses for women, will roll out at other venues across the UK over the coming year.

"The aim is to make the week a fun and exciting mixture of prize-winning games and competitions, combined with visits and team activities that give kids a real buzz," said Cool Head director, Kate Kuper.

"We believe this is the first time that a children's camp has been run in this way in the UK, using fun activities to explore the world of money and business - something that is particularly pertinent at the moment," she said.

Children will have a go at using creative design and video to get their ideas for money-making enterprises into action. They will put together a kids' financial supplement for a national newspaper, watch fun and relevant videos, and play a host of specifically designed games and quizzes to explain money, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

Visits will include trips to the Bank of England, the advertising museum, and various business and social entrepreneurial ventures, whilst guest speakers such as journalists, entrepreneurs, architects and scientists will enliven the course with their experiences.

Creative aspects of the courses include designing new currencies and writing and filming TV commercials for their own new business ideas. There will also be a bunch of ''physical finance'' activities to get the blood and creative juices flowing.

A highlight of the week will be a Dragon's Den style competition at which teams of children can work together to present their new business ideas.

"The concept is based on a new technique that combines exciting activities with a basic set of skills for kids to get a grasp of issues relating to money, business and social responsibility, which they would not usually learn at school," says Kelly Heymans, Cool Head's drama teacher.

"The components of the course have been put together and tested, based on an independent market research programme undertaken among parents and children earlier this year," says Cate Bronstein, Cool Head's third partner.

A special "Credit Crunch Offer" of £175 is available for the first two courses, with subsequent courses costing £250 for the week. Courses run from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, with additional facilities for early drop-off or late stays.

Full details can be found on the Cool Head Company website at www.coolheadcompany.co.uk <http://www.coolheadcompany.co.uk> and bookings can be made on 07879 064 771.

Future courses run by The Cool Head Company will include a Finance Fitness course for women, which is due to start at the beginning of 2009. It will focus on basic financial and economic concepts to help give women the confidence to take more control over their finances.