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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that the school could have come up with a better fundraising idea than this?

21 replies

GreatGooglyMoogly · 20/03/2011 15:54

On Friday the DC are having a non-uniform day and have to bring in an Easter Egg each - no problem there. About 2 weeks later the DC have to bring in £1 each in return for one of said Easter eggs. We paid for them in the first place, donated them and are then expected to buy them back! They will be randomly given one so may not even get one they like. I know it is fundraising for the school and will directly benefit the children, etc but can't help but think that it is ridiculous for us to be paying twice for the same thing. So, AIBU?

OP posts:

littleducks · 20/03/2011 15:57

Sounds like the fun of a bake sale to me

I have to buy cakes to donate
A cake for dd to buy (special diet)
And money for dd to buy it with

They also did a sponsored bounce (and stressed even unsponsord children would get to bounce)
which dd enjoyed much more.......I think it was on a big bouncy castle but it may have been a trampoline

PaisleyLeaf · 20/03/2011 16:00

That's how fundraising works here too....
we donate the tombola prizes, then buy the tombola tickets. Same with the raffles and the cakes.

onehotmomma · 20/03/2011 16:02

They do the same thing at my dc's school around xmas. You have to buy a present, donate it and then they need a £1 to buy it back lol.

I don't mind doing it but it's when they do several things to raise money in a short space of time that annoys me

Original poster

GreatGooglyMoogly · 20/03/2011 16:05

That's a very good point - I hadn't thought of it like that! I guess what feels different with this is that usually the DC get to choose what they want to buy/ do, and I get to choose how much I'm willing to spend on it.

OP posts:

hardhatdonned · 20/03/2011 16:09

Same here too.

I use the christmas tombola/raffle as a good excuse to get shot of the accumulated unwanted gifts from the year. Fundraise for the school and get shot of the crap. Win win.

Original poster

GreatGooglyMoogly · 20/03/2011 16:13

Yes, I agree hardhat. I get rid of things we already have that we don't want for the school fair and bake things for the cake sales so it never feels quite so much like buying something new, donating it and then buying it back.

OP posts:

PepsiPopcorn · 20/03/2011 17:08

What sort of fundraising would you suggest?

MorticiaAddams · 20/03/2011 20:44

YABU. That's the way it goes, prizes get donated and then you pay money to either buy or try and win them back.

Unfortunately schools don't get anywhere near enough money for all the extras we like our children to have at school and that's the way it needs to be done.

jenkel · 20/03/2011 20:53

Our school does the same, but only charging 50p, unfortunatly the school really does need all the money it can get, school budgets have been slashed. It is done after school so you do have the option of not taking part and collecting your children as soon as school finishes.

melpomene · 20/03/2011 21:00

Surely it's better with fundraising to have something where the children can be involved or make an effort in some way? eg, sponsored read, sponsored walk, bakesale (children can be involved in baking at home), or have the children make something at school that they caan sell to each other or to parents. Or alternatively have a raffle or similar.

The Easter egg scheme sounds like it involves no input from the children and they might as well just shake a collection bucket in the playground.

elphabadefiesgravity · 20/03/2011 21:09

A school I know of does something called a basket bash and it seems really popular and apparently raises quite a bit of money.

Each class is given a theme such as "games night", "pamper evening" or chocolholics paradise. The children then have to bring in something on that theme, it can be big or small and then raffle tickets are sold to win the baskets which are nicely wrapped with ribbons and stuff.

Skinit · 20/03/2011 21:16

Yes yabu. I take all kinds of crap to DDs school and then pay through the nose to "win" some of it back!

Zettelbox · 20/03/2011 21:19

Ah yes, for Comic Relief I made a dozen cupcakes with whirly buttercream frosting and sugar sparkles, at a cost of 3.40 for ingredients. Cupcakes sold at school for 20p each. I donate 3.40 to school, plus 20p for son to buy back a cupcake.... Comic Relief gets 2.40 :)

quirrelquarrel · 20/03/2011 21:23

I would be scared of the petty squabbling- "oh, she's not getting my egg" or "ew you've got her egg". It's a nice idea...

Original poster

GreatGooglyMoogly · 21/03/2011 08:08

That is indeed one of my concerns, quirrelquarrel. I'm sure size of egg and type will be factors as well, particularly when compared to the one donated originally.

OP posts:

DuplicitousBitch · 21/03/2011 08:11

How on earth do 12 cupcakes cost that much to make?

MmeLindt · 21/03/2011 08:12

I think it is ok. Most DC will bring similar eggs anyway, very much doubt that anyone will donate a Thorntons or a Godiva egg.

The problem with sponsored walks etc is that then the parents moan that they have to go around getting sponsors, and take the DC to whatever activity

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 21/03/2011 08:14

I prefer things where the shops don't benefit as much as the school benefit. So in this case I'd rather they had a 'dress in yellow and white or brown' day (egg) and 'donate' £2 to the school, rather than £1 to the shop and £1 to the school.

But organising fund raising is a huge PITA - so I happily go along with pretty much anything they are doing to try to help the kids - even if it doesn't make economic sense.

fanjolina · 21/03/2011 08:27

I think I'll just write a cheque for £100 to the school each year and be done with it - far easier!

Heroine · 21/03/2011 08:31

£10 each kid for a evening or weekend day at the local college large kitchens making easter eggs in moulds...?

exoticfruits · 21/03/2011 08:53

Youi could, of course, come up with a brilliant idea of your own and offer to organise it......I'm sure they would be delighted. If you aren't willing you shouldn't moan. There are too many people who say 'they should....' instead of 'we could.....'

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