Child Trust Funds

With new levels of Child Benefit coming into effect from January 5, leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider, The Children's Mutual has welcomed the move calculating that 2009 newborns could benefit from a collective lump sum of at least £15.4 billion if families were able to save their Child Benefit into their CTF account over 18 years.

Stubbing out your 5 a day habit could help you give your child £15,500 on their 18th birthday. Leading Child Trust Fund provider, The Children's Mutual is encouraging all parents who decide to give up smoking as their New Year's resolution to consider putting the money that they will save towards their children's futures.

As consumers search for more practical gifts this year, retail stockbroker, The Share Centre is urging parents and relatives to make the most of their kid's Child Trust Fund (CTF) allowance this Christmas by topping up the account.

TISA - the Tax Incentivised Savings Association - is encouraging parents of children with Child Trust Funds to save gifts of money into the plan this Christmas.

As Christmas draws near, children named after the Archangel Gabriel could be celebrating more than stockings and gifts under the tree, as data from The Children's Mutual reveals they historically receive the largest lump sums of cash into their Child Trust Funds.

Some parents might like to consider a present that will last long after the festive season has come to an end.

F&C have published a free "Guide to Investing for Children", designed to show investors that giving their child a financial head start in life is achievable and how to go about this.

Kate Baker, Head of Savings and Investments, Family Investments, commented:

The Children's Mutual has welcomed the Government's annual update on the progress of the Child Trust Fund (CTF) and in particular confirmation that 75 per cent of children's accounts are being initiated by parents.

As financial situations worsen, parents are having to cut back on personal luxuries in order to secure a better future for their children, according to research by Family Investments, the family savings specialist and UK's leading Child Trust Fund provider.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has released its latest quarterly figures on Child Trust Funds (CTF) and according to the home of the child trust fund, The Children's Mutual they spell good news.

Over 3.5million UK children now have Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts and according to leading CTF provider, The Children's Mutual, these children, their parents and society should celebrate the fact that the CTF is changing saving habits in the UK.

Parents will be wasting £242 million in tax breaks by not making full use of their children's Child Trust Fund (CTF) allowance this year, according to figures from Unbiased.co.uk.

In the three years and a half years since the Government launched its Child Trust Fund (CTF) scheme offering £250 to any child born after 1 September 2002, 3.61 million children have benefited, however future generations could see their nest egg put at risk by rising inflation.

Nationwide reveals that 25% of Child Trust Fund vouchers have already expired and only 57% of live vouchers have been paid in so far this year. This means that around £248 million in vouchers and potential interest has effectively been thrown away for a year by parents failing to use their child's CTF voucher upon receipt.

Many youngsters are saving towards higher education from the age of 11 because they have seen older family members flounder under the burden of university debts, according to research from leading Child Trust Fund provider, The Children's Mutual.

Traditionally, the average family spends more than £320 a year on uniforms for up to 12 year olds. Thanks to retailers such as George at ASDA offering uniforms at £4, spend could be as low as £32 a year - saving a family up to £290.

Regular and lump sum contribution levels into Child Trust Funds are continuing to increase in value according to the latest CTF quarterly survey by TISA - The Tax Incentivised Savings Association.

HM Revenue and Customs has released the quarterly statistics for Child Trust Funds, revealing the number of CTF accounts opened by parents.

Parents investing their Child Trust Fund (CTF) money in cash accounts have seen average rates cut by 0.21% in a year despite the ongoing credit crunch boosting payouts across the savings market, analysis by MoneyExpert.com shows.

The new measures were highlighted by Gordon Brown in a speech last night, in which he said that increasing social mobility must be a driving force for the Government.

At this week's Treasury Select Sub-Committee hearing, Economic Secretary Kitty Ussher MP revealed new figures that show CTF opening rates have increased from 70% to 72% as a result of a renewed effort to increase awareness of and engagement with the scheme.

Family Investments, the UK's leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider with more than half a million accounts, has welcomed the launch of HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) new CTF podcast.

Parents, guardians and mums and dads-to be, can find out everything they need to know about the Child Trust Fund (CTF) in a new HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) podcast launched today.

Last week, Princess Beatrice was seen out and about in Belgravia house hunting for a £4.5 million property, financed by a trust fund that matured on her 18th birthday.