First-year university students start their academic lives worrying about managing their money rather than achieving academic success, new research has revealed. The study conducted by the National Union of Students on behalf of student insurance provider Endsleigh also found that young people are struggling to make their loans last as they live in their overdrafts.

Ranking a list of top concerns they had in their first year, two in five (40%) of students said that ‘managing my money ’was a key concern, significantly higher than the one in three (33%) who put ‘achieving academic success’ at the top.

Worryingly, one in four (25%) weren’t able to make their first student loan instalment last more than one month, while a full 7% claim it didn’t last them much more than a week, revealing a lack of basic budgeting skills among Freshers.  This chaotic approach to money management is underlined by the finding that just under half (49%) of students with an overdraft say they’re ‘always’ in their overdraft, while more than one in four (28%) ‘regularly’ use their overdraft.

Worries about money management aren’t only for Freshers – more than half (54%) of all university students have failed to make a plan for paying off their student debts, while 55% have failed to plan for paying off their personal debts. While the majority of students claim that before starting university they felt either quite (45%) or very (17%) prepared, three in five (61%) felt that university was more expensive than they had expected.

The student insurance provider said it was calling on parents to talk to young people about money management before they head off to university.

Alex Jones from Endsleigh said:

“Starting university can feel pretty overwhelming, and our research shows that a lot of students are unfortunately letting money issues get in the way of their studies, with many unable to budget properly or make a plan to manage their student or personal debt.

“There’s still time to talk about money management before they head off to Freshers this year. If you can help them to plan ahead by sorting a budget and organising things they tend to put off  - like opening a good student account and  getting any  gadget and contents insurance they may need – they’ll be able to concentrate on their studies, and you can relax that they’ve got a plan in place to manage their funds.”

To help parents prepare young people for managing their money more effectively at university, Endsleigh has pulled together these top tips for Freshers.

Download a budgeting app and use it!

Sticking to a monthly budget is easier than ever before with a wide range of mobile apps that help you manage your monthly spend. All tend to be simple to use and many are free so try one out. Understanding what is spent where will make a big difference to having the funds for things that matter.

Talk about money management

Be open about what you’re doing with your friends. Almost everyone at uni is in the same boat so if you need to swap a meal out for a pot-luck dinner party or a trip to the cinema for a movie night at home then they’ll understand. But likewise, if things start feeling overwhelming, don’t hide it. Talk to your parents or guardians if you feel you’re not in control of your money.

Set up direct debits for bills

If you’ve got regular outgoings, set up a direct debit to pay for it. Once you’ve got the essentials covered, you can enjoy that night out guilt-free!

Avoid nasty surprises with insurance

No one wants to be half way through the semester only to be hit by a huge bill to replace a cracked smartphone screen or worse, having to replace a laptop that’s been damaged by a spilled cup of tea. Accidents happen so be prepared with the right insurance that protects your possessions.

Make small savings

Once you’ve worked out your monthly budget, see how much you can afford to put aside regularly. Even if it’s only £20 a month, you’ll feel much better when it comes to someone’s birthday and you’ve got some money saved. Put a bit more away and you could be enjoying an end-of-first-year holiday with your mates.

Creative digital and business students at BMet have proved to be pitch-perfect after winning a competition set by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and homeless charity, The Roberts Centre.  Five students who are part of BMet’s Career Colleges, an employer-led education programme, developed a website, YouTube film and a game to promote the launch of a children’s book about homelessness.

Digital Lead for the Career Colleges Trust, Julia Von Klonowski, said: “All the students did a fantastic job. Taking part in a live project with one of the world’s biggest digital companies has been an amazing opportunity for them.

“This project is about linking education, business and community – benefiting the children and families helped by The Roberts Centre. It has given students first-hand experience of how a multinational company works and also given them insight to the huge number of career opportunities available within the growing digital sector.”

15 of BMet’s Career College students completed the eight-week live project which involved them developing a variety of digital applications and describing how these would be promoted.  In addition to being named overall winners, the BMet team picked up an award for best presentation.

Deise De Carvalho, group leader of the winning team said: “This was an amazing project to be involved in.  We used all kinds of digital features in our film, website and game.  We designed animation and made sure the website supported people with visual or hearing impairments.  I narrated the book for the film as well, which I loved doing.

The 20-year-old, who also gave a presentation at The Career Colleges Trust’s recent annual conference added:  “The pitches from the students were really good.  There were some brilliant ideas so everyone was inspired.  We’ve all learned a lot.”

As well as developing a creative plan, students had to cost the project, working to a ‘budget’ of £60k. They attended an initial brief at AWS’s offices and had to hold regular meetings, mirroring a real-life industry project.

BMet Career College lecturer, Fredericka McFarlane said: “Having launched our Career Colleges 12 months ago for the business professional and creative digital industries, this win is the icing on the cake for all we have achieved so far.  Our students worked incredibly hard to create lively digital personalities for each book.  And now that they are gaining an understanding of interactive design, development and business strategies, they are becoming ready for the workplace and are starting to believe they have a lot to offer.”

Every student taking part received a certificate and a t-shirt, with each college also being given a ‘Robert Bear.’ Members of the overall winning team were each presented with an Alexa as a reward for their success.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is has now begun – with young bookworms encouraged to read six or more library books over the next six weeks.

The theme for this year's challenge, organised by the Reading Agency, is Animal Agents, and participants can collect rewards as they go along.

Children aged up to 12 can take the challenge at libraries across Wolverhampton, with more than 30 events – many of them animal-themed – also being held over the summer holidays to help them on their way.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu, who officially launched the Summer Reading Challenge at Central Children’s Library on Saturday (15 July), said: “Our libraries have been supporting the Summer Reading Challenge for more than 10 years and it is always very popular with families.

“Reading is essential for a child's success. It not only helps them to develop their imagination but gives them essential skills for adulthood.

“Last year over 1,200 children took part in this reading scheme so my challenge to the young people of Wolverhampton is to beat that this year!”

He added: “Holding more events in our libraries to attract new users is a key part of our Transforming Libraries Service strategy, and so we are looking forward to welcoming hundreds of young bookworms and their families through our doors during the long summer holidays.”

Participants must read any six books of their choice from their local library during the holidays, and will collect rewards, stickers and finally a medal to celebrate their success.

Summer activities at Wolverhampton's libraries are as follows:

• Tuesday 25 July, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (under 7s), Warstones Library, 2.30-3.30pm
• Wednesday 26 July, Summer Six story and Craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Thursday 27 July, Tom Palmer, football author, quiz and penalty shootout (7+), Central Children’s Library, 11.30am-12.30pm
• Monday 31 July, Animal story computer workshop (8-12 years), Central Children’s Library, 2-4pm
• Tuesday 1 August, Wolves Tales story and craft session (4+), Spring Vale Library, 11-noon, and Low Hill Library, 2.30-3.30pm
• Tuesday 1 August, The Animal Man (5+), Central Children’s Library, 1.30-2.30pm, and Warstones Library, 3.30-4.30pm
• Wednesday 2 August, Summer Six story and craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Thursday 3 August, Jungle Jamboree story and craft session (5+), Central Children’s Library, 2-3.30pm
• Saturday 5 August, Wolves Tales story and craft session (4+), Penn Library, 2.30-3.30pm
• Monday 7 August, Dogs Trust Story Session (4+), East Park Library 11-noon, Wednesfield Library, 1-2pm and Ashmore Park Library, 2.30-3.30pm.
• Monday 7 August, Animal story computer workshop (8-12 years), Central Children’s Library, 2-4pm
• Tuesday 8 August, Wolves Tales story and craft session (4+), Finchfield Library, 10.30-11.30am
• Tuesday 8 August, Farmyard Fun story and craft session (5+), Central Children’s Library, 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 9 August, Summer Six story and craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Monday 14 August, Dogs Trust Story Session (4+), Tettenhall Library, 10.30-11.30am, Pendeford Library, 12.15-1.15pmm and Whitmore Reans Library, 2-3pm.
• Monday 14 August, Animal story computer workshop (8-12 years), Central Children’s Library, 2-4pm
• Tuesday 15 August, Baby Booktime Summer Special (under 3s), Central Children’s Library, 10.30-11.30am
• Tuesday 15 August, Jungle Jive story and craft session (under 7s), 2.30-3pm
• Wednesday 16 August, Summer Six story and craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Wednesday 16 August, Pet’s Parade story and craft session (5+), Central Children’s Library, 2-3.30pm
• Monday 21 August, Animal story computer workshop (8-12 years), Central Children’s Library, 2-4pm
• Tuesday 22 August, Wolves Tales story and craft session (4+), Blakenhall Library at Bob Jones Community Hub, 11am-noon
• Tuesday 22 August, Wolves Tales story and craft session (4+), Long Knowle Library, 2-3pm
• Tuesday 22 August, Animal Aliens story and craft session (under 7s), Warstones Library, 2.30-3pm
• Wednesday 23 August, Summer Six story and craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Thursday 24 August, Birds of Paradise story and craft session (5+), Central Children’s Library, 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 30 August, Summer Six story and craft session (under 10s), Bilston Library, 11am-noon
• Wednesday 30 August, Animals of the Night story and craft session (5+), Central Children’s Library, 2-3.30pm.

The West Midlands region saw the largest increase in job creation of any region in the UK over the last three months, according to figures released today. Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed 65,000 workforce jobs were created in the region between December and March.

However, the statistics also presented slight cause for concern as unemployment rose by 0.2 per cent between March and May.

The employment rate remained unchanged at 71.8 per cent, while inactivity fell by 0.2 per cent.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “The news on the number of jobs created in the West Midlands earlier in the year is a great testament to our region’s renaissance and position as a top quality place to start, grow and move a business.

“However, the more recent statistics show a slight rise in unemployment. This is a concern and further evidence of the need to ensure that people living in the West Midlands are skilled and able to move in to the jobs being created.

“The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s most recent Quarterly Business Report (QBR) showed that half of employers in Greater Birmingham had attempted to recruit in the last three months.

“This represents a vast number of jobs and is a real opportunity for the region. We will be examining this and other key QBR trends at our launch event on the 18 July, focusing on investment in Greater Birmingham.”

Children at Brookvale Primary School had a smashing time last week when talented Birmingham Artist, Kirk Whitehouse, visited school to produce some artwork made entirely from broken vinyl.

The event, which was part of the school’s Arts Week, saw children create artwork by their favourite music artists, Drake and Stormzy.

Kirk has been producing this style of art for a number of years now with growing popularity, both locally and nationally. He has produced work for a string of famous names in the music and sporting world.

Kirk said: “It was an honour to be asked to work with the children at Brookvale Primary School. This was my first time working with a group of children and I had one of my most satisfying days. They asked some brilliant questions and were fully engaged in their work. I was really proud of them and the work they produced. I would definitely be happy to call their work my own.”

The school will now be displaying this art work in the main hall to show everyone how well children did.

Kirk’s visits was part of a whole school arts week. The children enjoyed their opportunity to produce lots of art based around a number of famous artists.

Jennifer Maskell, deputy headteacher, said: “It has been a great week and the children have been really enthusiastic about the art they have produced. It is lovely to give a full range of opportunity and this week really fits in with our promise to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.”