According to research by The Children’s Mutual, a leading Child Trust Fund provider, parents of 18 to 30-year-olds are warning families of younger children to start saving now to fund the future, with nearly 28% saying that they have either re-mortgaged or are planning to re-mortgage to fund their child’s adulthood. The research also revealed that many parents of adult children said that if they had their time again they would have saved more.

As the coalition Government threatens to cut the Child Trust Fund (CTF), The Children’s Mutual is urging parents whose children are eligible for the accounts to make the most of them while they can.

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “Saving for your child is a ‘necessity’ not a ‘nice-to-have’. Parents of today’s 18 to 30-year-olds are having to find an average of GBP30,000 to fund their adult children the hard way – by re-mortgaging or borrowing further. We believe the only way that most families will be able to help fund children to fulfill their potential going forward is by saving regularly over the long term.”

Parents of CTF holding children should not be disheartened or confused by the coalition’s proposal. The Government has confirmed that for existing customers, the accounts will remain as they are; meaning that the families of the five million CTF holding children across the UK can continue to save up to GBP1,200 a year tax efficiently to help give their child a much-needed springboard into adulthood.

David White continued, “We believe that children stand the best chance of fulfilling their potential if money isn’t an insurmountable barrier to their choices and decisions. The CTF has been a phenomenal success with families investing more than GBP5 million every week for their children and we urge parents to make the most of it.”

Launched in 2005, Child Trust Funds were designed to provide a tax efficient, long-term savings vehicle for all eligible children. Eligible newborn children (born on or after 1 September 2002) received a GBP250 Child Trust Fund voucher (GBP500 for low income families) from the government when their parents registered for Child Benefit. The government then makes a second contribution of GBP250 (GBP500 for low income families) when the child reaches seven. Parents, family and friends can all then add to this account up to a maximum value of GBP1,200 each year. The proposed changes to the CTF will mean that for existing customers the accounts remain as before, with an annual tax-efficient top up allowance of GBP1,200, albeit without the Government’s additional contributions from 1 August 2010.

Notes to editors
Research from The Children’s Mutual Cost of Children Report. Figures from TISA, workings available on request.

Further information on the changes to Child Trust Funds can be found on The Children’s Mutual website.

About The Children’s Mutual – Home of the Child Trust Fund
The Children’s Mutual’s mission is to help parents, grandparents, family and friends fulfill their hopes for today’s children. The Children’s Mutual is the only UK company that specialises in long term savings for children and is now the choice of one in four parents for their child’s Child Trust Fund, with over 800,000 accounts. This expertise has led several financial institutions and family-focused high street retailers to choose The Children’s Mutual as their stakeholder Child Trust Fund provider.
Website: http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/

Online Career Advancement, a provider of academic preparation programs, today announced the launch of an educational website that offers potential GED test takers access to resources, references, and learning materials directly related to GED Test preparation series. The website is called GED Information Center.

The GED Information Center consists of an easily accessible list of categorized links to Official GED Practice Tests, and other official GED information and resources from the American Council on Education ‘s GED Testing Service . The GED Information Center offers the most important GED general information, skills development and test preparation resources readily accessible from a single web site.

“The GED credential is growing up. It is crucial for those in pursuit of this high school equivalency diploma to have the most accurate information possible to facilitate successfully passing the GED tests,” said Leonard Cox, president, Online Career Advancement. “We are excited to offer an online resource for GED information much needed by potential GED test-takers and GED instructors. The primary goal of the GED Information Center is to provide straight-forward and simple access to essential and empowering resources and references to help improve the success rate of GED test-takers.”

Online Career Advancement’s GED Information Center website includes links to General Educational Development (GED) Resources, References, and Learning Materials from the American Council on Education (ACE), the GED Testing Service, Official GED Practice Tests Providers, State Departments of Education, Colleges and Universities, and other Adult Education Service Providers as Supplements to GED Instruction and GED Test Preparation. The website was recently launched and will be continuously updated.

“We have designed the GED Information Center as a supplement to other GED Test prep strategies. Subsequently, We expect that many GED test-takers will be able to successfully pursue the GED credential by utilizing only this website; and at no cost, no spam, and ad-free” adds Professor Cox.

The GED informational websites and all GED resource links are ad-free and content adheres to the standards and curriculum guidelines of the official General Educational Development (GED) diploma.

Adult education centers, career centers, GED testing centers, and other GED program and service providers are encourage to link to the GED Information Center website. Online Career Advancement welcomes suggestions and comments to help improve the GEDInformationCenter.com website.

GED and the GED Testing Service are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the American Council on Education.

Robert Edgar Nelson Harder, a retired teacher with the District of Columbia Public Schools, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in mathematics education.

Robert Edgar Nelson Harder attributes the success he achieved as a teacher to the support he received from his parents, particularly his father, Keith C. Harder Sr. who encouraged him to follow in his footsteps. In 1961, Robert married Peggy and they both became teachers – Peggy was an Elementary School Music teacher in Prince Georges’ County , Md., for 25 years before retiring.

Over the years, Mr. Harder lent his talents to Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. where he continued a Bible Club that had been established by Social Studies teacher Mr. John Scott two years before he left Roosevelt to find work elsewhere. The club met once a week to read the King James version of the Bible. Later, as the club developed, some of the club members eventually became ministers. When asked to recall another highlight of his teacher career, Mr. Harder fondly told Cambridge Who’s Who about a chance meeting in 1994 with a student he taught in the 1960s. “We met in an Anne Arundel Hospital room and she told me that she became an elementary school teacher in D.C. because she was inspired by me.” Another highlight was receiving a $10,000 GTE Grant in 1986 to partner with a Biology teacher, Ms. Joan Maye, to study hydroponically grown beans in a biology classroom. Mr. Harder taught the statistics needed to explain the growth of the beans.

Since arriving to the District of Columbia Public Schools in 1962, Mr. Harder has served in various capacities as Faculty Blood Donor Drive Chairman, Amenities Committee Chairman, and Mathematics Department Chair of a ten member department. Mr. Harder also led the Roosevelt Philosophy Committee when The Middle States Association Evaluation Committee visited for their 10-year cycle of review of secondary school education in their region of the USA. This peer-based membership association is dedicated to promoting standards of excellence and improvement in secondary education. Over a period of three days, the Committee determined that the school was meeting expectations in most areas, and exceeding expectations in the number of staff with perfect attendance and use of resources available, while recommending more attention be given to student attendance and follow-up. Their evaluation in 1992 stated that “Theodore Roosevelt High School was meeting their goals and a passing grade was well received by faculty, staff, and students.”

Mr. Harder received his Master of Education in 1966 and his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1961 from the University of Maryland. In 1958, he received his Associate of Arts from Graceland University. These days, Bob and Peg live in an adult community called Heritage Harbour (population approximately 3,500). In 1995 Bob and Peg established the Heritage Harbour Chorus, which has grown to be a fixture in Heritage Harbour life. Now 15 years old, the 501-C-3 organization has an annual budget of $20,000 and 60+ members. Each member pays $75 a semester to attend a two-hour practice on Mondays and perform twice yearly in December and May at the Lodge

Auditorium led by talented Director James R. Fitzpatrick and Accompanist Erik Apland. Other performance venues include the many nursing homes, senior centers and continuing care facilities in the Annapolis area. Bob and Peg also participate in Heritage Harbour’s Drama programs, play tennis, and join a winter duckpin bowling league in Severna Park. Mr. Harder holds the priesthood office of Elder in the Community of Christ/Washington, D.C. congregation where they participate in the scheduled services on a regular basis.

About Cambridge Who’s Who
With over 400,000 members representing every major industry, Cambridge Who’s Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Cambridge Who’s Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies and makes them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services. Cambridge is pleased to welcome its new Executive Director of Global Branding and Networking, Donald Trump Jr., who is eager to share his extensive experience in this arena with members.

Cambridge Who’s Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third party endorsement of their accomplishments and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

Headquartered in Long Island’s premier office building, RXR Plaza, the Cambridge Who’s Who staff spans more than 10 departments and comprises a team of nearly 200 highly skilled and dedicated employees. Together they work to provide members with the recognition and exposure needed to further their careers, expand their businesses and network effectively in an economy where referrals are more important than ever.

For more information, please visit http://www.cambridgeregistry.com.