The boss of consumer rights charity Which? will share her insights into consumer Britain at a business breakfast this week.

Which? CEO Anabel Hoult will be the guest at the online Carlisle Youth Zone business breakfast on Friday, July 9.

Anabel will share her views on how habits have changed during the digital boom driven by the pandemic, as well as her passion for the Youth Zone and OnSide support network for young people.

The event is being hosted by Carlisle solicitors Baines Wilson LLP.

Anabel said: "The move online has certainly brought many positives; it’s been wonderful to see the faces of friends and family over Zoom, for example, and vital that the elderly and vulnerable were able to order shopping on the internet and have it delivered to their doors,”.

However, she said the shift had also brought concerns over online scams and access to cash.

“I’m sure most people have received a text, email or telephone call from a scammer recently and in response to this, Which? is working hard to raise awareness of the issue, to help people protect themselves and to lobby for change to protect consumers,” said Anabel.

“And with many people, including the most vulnerable in our society, still reliant on cash, the disappearance of bank branches and cash machines, plus many retailers moving to card payment only has left many people struggling. We are working with the government, the banking industry and retailers to protect people’s right to access and to pay with cash.”

She says services such as the Which? Coronavirus Hub, which collates reliable information for consumers, had become more important as disinformation was able to spread so quickly on the internet.

“We had millions of visits from people looking for advice on the issues that were impacting them, from cancelled flights to the best face masks to use,” said Anabel.

“According to the Competitions & Markets Authority, online reviews influence £23 billion of purchasing decisions every year, yet our work shows that many of these, on some of the biggest online platforms, are paid for or fake. Online platforms are also home to sophisticated and malicious scammers and we think more consumer protection must be put in place to protect people.”

Anabel worked with the Cheshire and Wirral Federation of Youth Clubs as a teenager and is now on the board of OnSide, a national organisation focused on providing support and

opportunities for young people. It runs a national network of Youth Zones, including Carlisle Youth Zone, in Victoria Place.

“Later in life, I felt that the time was right for me to use the skills and experience that have built up through my career, both in the non-profit and commercial sectors, to hopefully add some value to a youth work charity,” said Anabel.

“I met with some of the OnSide trustees and was hugely impressed by the level of ambition and belief that OnSide has in terms of the scope of the work it is doing to improve opportunities for young people. I felt inspired to join them and do what I can to support their mission at a time when youth work is more important than ever.”

Tom Scaife, partner at Baines Wilson, will be chairing the event. “We’re delighted that Anabel will be joining us in supporting Carlisle Youth Zone this week. It will be fascinating to hear what she has to say about her role at Which? and her support for youth organisations.”

The event will take place between 9am and 10am via Zoom. People can book their place by going to: www.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUud-mgrjwrH9eg5LLuur9Ray31fBOyVuWg