Product Snapshot
The g2g Card is a one year pilot programme being run by the Cambridgeshire County Council to get more young people into activities. The scheme is for 2,000 13-16 year olds who are in receipt of free school meals or young people who are looked after. Some 17-year olds may be eligible if they meet the above criteria and are in full-time education.
There are no complicated forms to fill in, and parents and guardians will be given the opportunity to opt-out of the scheme.
The g2g cards will be distributed in schools by Connexions or Youth Workers at the beginning of March 2008.
Each month, the g2g Card will be topped up by Cambridgeshire County Council with £40 for the young cardholder to spend on activities and interests. To ensure that the money is spent on activities, a Prepaid Maestro® Card with chip and PIN is being used. It works like a bank card but if it is taken to a place that is not an activity provider, such as a supermarket or sports shop, the payment will be declined.
The Good
A card that is completely free to use and encourages youth to get involved in positive activities. There are no usage fees and the g2g prepaid card provides a safe way to carry money. The cards aims to encourage young people off the streets, avoiding boredom and getting into trouble.
The Not so Good
Well, the only downside is that it is a pilot scheme being trialled in the Cambridgeshire area and you cannot actually apply for a card. So unfortunately, there are only 2000 cards to go around.
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Key Features
 
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Maestro Acceptance
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Chip & PIN Security
* you can not actually apply for the g2g Prepaid card but click here to find out more about the scheme
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Application Process 
The g2g prepaid card programme is a pilot scheme and only 2000 cards are available to start with. The scheme is for 2,000 13-16 year olds who are in receipt of free school meals or young people who are looked after. Some 17-year olds may be eligible if they meet the above criteria and are in full-time education.
Unfortunately, during the pilot period,
you cannot actually apply for a g2g card as the Cambridgeshire County Council will register young people for this scheme. Cards and PINs will be distributed in school at the beginning of March 2008. No one has to take up the card if they don’t want to and all information is held in accordance with the relevant Data Protection legislation.
You can contact your local Connexions office for more information or talk to the Connexions or Youth Worker at your local school. You can also find out more information on the purplepigeon website and young people can go to www.purplepigeon.net/g2gcard for more information
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Card Features
- Money can only be spent on positive activities
- providing a safe way to carry money using the Chip and PIN g2g card
- card account can be managed using innovative SMS functionality
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Card Design
At this stage, only one card design is available, but it is an excellent design and one that is definitely worthy of being carried in your pocket. The limitation in choice is easily compensated by the actual card design.
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Card Fees
- Card Issue Fee - Free
- Monthly Fee - Free
- Transaction Fee UK - Free
- ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - Free
- Reload Fee - Free (the card can only be reloaded by the Cambridgeshire County Council)
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Online Account Management and Self Servicing
You can service your account on the g2g prepaid Card website or via an interactive voice response facility. You can also use your mobile phone to manage your prepaid card account. You can view your balance, recent transactions and change your personal details.
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Using Abroad
The purpose of the g2g prepaid card is to encourage youth to indulge in positive activities and the card can only be used in the Cambridgeshire area with selected merchants..
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Reload Options
Funds can only be loaded on to your g2g Prepaid Card by the Cambridgeshire County Council.
Once you have received and activated your card, the council will top up your card with £40 per month; if it is not spent it can carry over to pay for bigger activities but any unspent subsidy will return to the council at the end of the pilot scheme in 12 months. You cannot top - up or reload the card yourself or in any other way.
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Customer Service
There are a couple of ways you can get in touch with the g2g prepaid card Customer Services team.
- By Email: info@g2gcard.co.uk
- Lost and Stolen Cards: +44 (0) 207 127 0009
*Calls are charged at standard network rates whilst email is free
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Complaints Procedure
The g2g card programme is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council in conjunction with Altair Financial Services Ltd. If you are unhappy in any way with your g2g card or the way it is managed, tell us by contacting your Connexion Officer, YOS Officer, Youth Worker, Social ESLAC Worker or by using the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Website so they can investigate the circumstances for you.
Any complaints you have will be dealt with quickly and fairly. You may be able to take unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR. Telephone: 0845 080 1800 or +44 (0)20 7964 1000 (for calls from outside the UK) and e-mail:enquiries@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
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Awards
The g2g Card has received rave reviews in the press and was nominated for one of the awards at the MasterCard prepaid card Awards in Cannes but we are awaiting details of any award wins at this stage.
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Overall Card rating 
An excellent product underlining the Cambridgeshire County councils commitment to getting all young people into positive activities!
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* you can not actually apply for the g2g Prepaid card but click here to find out more about the scheme
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