To think this school trip is badly misjudged

[MaoamAddict]

Have name changed as the situation is very specific. DC is in year 1 at a lovely school, but we've just received notice that a school 'trip' will be taking place to a local food bank. The school have asked for us to pay for transport (not a problem) and have gone on to say that the children will be packing food, handing out food parcels and seeing behind the scenes of a large local food bank.

We live in a middle class area with a minimal number of DC on pupil premium but there are certainly families within school community who are on the breadline and may have used food banks. I think it's fucking crass for the school to be using a food bank as a spectacle?! We donate weekly financially and feminine hygiene products, but the school don't seem to have thought this through at all, what if one or more of the DC in the 3 year 1 classes have visited that food bank?! How do I word these concerns without being 'that' parent? Or AIBU and overthinking?

The 'trip' is designed to fit in with a superhero topic at school - the food bank volunteers are being framed as the superheroes (tenuous link?) the food bank volunteers are amazing, but this feels wrong on so many levels.

I agree with you, op.

I also disagree with holding up people who run food banks as heros. Food banks shouldn't be needed, its disgusting and this smacks of poverty tourism.

YANBU about ‘superheroes’. Everyone is a superhero these days and everything is a superpower. Volunteering at a food bank should be considered a way of fulfilling a civic duty; an ordinary action that we should undertake to support society alongside other voluntary activities. It should not be elevated to something that only superheroes do so is not my responsibility too....

I totally agree with you. It's very indescreet. Worthy vitue signalling voluntourism.

I agree OP, it’s a dreadful idea for a trip. The children can learn about what food banks are without going to see. People using them are living that life, things can be tough for them and I can’t imagine they want a class of school kids watching them.

I’m not keen on kids seeing people as superheroes either. Someone mentioned the police...no thanks... I don’t feel I can tell my kids to trust the police never mind call them heroes. Calling people in certain roles superheroes makes kids think they can always be trusted and leaves them vulnerable. So shit topic all round I think. 😅

I don’t mean everyone should volunteer at a food bank - I mean we should all volunteer in some way to help society and support each other. Be it looking out for a neighbour, running a girls brigade pack or football club, sponsored run for the local hospice, sitting on community councils, joining litter picks. People aren’t superheroes doing these things. It should be expected that we do things like this when we can.

I completely do see that. I think it’s probably a good idea to not have the children handing out parcels and I would be surprised if that happened for the reasons you have set out. But there are ways this can happen without users feeling uncomfortable. You are the expert here but on a given day how many of your clients are a first time client? There are always ways to minimise the risk to anyone involved being harmed

A very poor choice on the school's part. Especially for children that young, they can often blurt out offensive things without intending to and they can be taught those same principles without having to physically go to the foodbank. Not to mention safeguarding with them interacting with random strangers. It does seem like a poverty safari as a PP named it. Now if they were year 10/11 and helping out I'd see it in a totally different light but at this age I think the benefit intended isn't for this audience just yet.

Scrolling up reading other peoples comments.........I do see what everyone is saying re the shame service users experience about using foodbanks and not wanting to see a class of kids turn up like its the zoo. But if it was coordinated so they went on a day when its not open to clients (many arent open to clients all week only certain days)

The Trussell Trust can only provide short term help. Those in need can only visit four times. So in any one day, 25% of those coming for help to a TT food bank are likely to be first time visitors. But it doesn't matter even if its their fourth visit. They still deserve their privacy, and this food bank is not protecting their dignity or respecting confidentiality.
It's not so much the children who are the issue. It's the staff and parents accompanying them.

But it's not. OP had confirmed that the trip involves the children handing out the parcels to those needing the service. That's what's so wrong.

That’s how I’d see it. I think 5-6 year olds are probably too young to take in why they’re there, how it’s helping. Maybe older children , but it does feel off to me.

Food banks are for normal people who are now struggling to live because of our country. Sending the kids in their class on a £15 trip to a food bank is a kick in the face. They already donate food at harvest to help the poor, but some of these kids are the recipients. They don't need their classmates taking a trip to feel sorry for them or their lives if they have a parent who has been to a food bank. It's just horrible

It’s not entertainment though it’s showing children the reality that should exist frankly and of it becomes apparent that a child uses the food bank then all the better to highlight to peers that this is the state of it atm.

You’re over thinking the value of the trip and while you’re trying to come across open minded “I donate!” Etc it sounds more like you do it to pacify yourself that you do enough.

i think this visit is a good one and I’d encourage it.

*shouldn’t exist

So you think that the recipients of the food parcels don't deserve privacy, respect and confidentiality? That its okay for them to turn up and find a hoard of kids and accompanying school staff (who might well recognise you), playing Lord and Lady Bountiful and handing you your parcel?

OP

I think you should turn this on its head.

After the visit 'that child' now knows where the food bank is, what it does and can relay that to a parent in an excited small child way.

Seriously, it's absolutely appalling that so many people here have no thought for those who need to approach charities for help. It's like they don't see them as people, or recognise that they deserve respect and confidentiality when at their absolute lowest point.

What next? Listening into calls to the Samaritans? 'Shining a light' on abortions to reduce the stigma, by going to visit a clinic?

And now words fail me.

Good night.

I’m not sure what on earth they could be ‘helping’ with? Random children arriving for a single morning and requiring training and supervision don’t reduce the workload of the volunteers.

Very much dislike using food bank users as an opportunity to ‘educate’ or ‘raise awareness’
also.

I agree with the PP who mentioned poverty tourism - this is the local version of building a well in a resource-poor area. Well-intentioned but unlikely to be genuinely helpful, and potentially very inappropriate.

No. The problem is the jolly hockey sticks attitude that denies that foodbank users will have different levels of comfort with using the foodbank, and that not all will wish to have children visiting. Some will be matter of fact about it, some will feel angry or frustrated, some will feel embarrassed.

It’s extremely dehumanizing to believe foodbank users are a homogeneous group who will all feel as you imagine you’d feel should you ever be in this situation.

saraclara oooops bad me not reading the op properly (I hate it when others do that!
Actually.... Im going to revise my previous opinion that Im ok about them visiting (whether or not the clients would see them) scrap what I previously said altogether.............. Im erasing my previous two comments!
I would have the children watch an informative video instead. About poverty, how it affects people, how even people with decent jobs may need to seek help. what a food bank does, how it operates etc. Sorted - kids informed, no poverty tourism. Lots of class discussion about how money doesnt mean happiness but it certainly makes things easier etc

Volunteers, whilst good for society and most likely lovely people are not bloody Super Heroes. So I would have issues with the trip based on that alone.
Whilst many of the children in the class may not be from a demographic that uses food banks, do the school have a plan if someone's Auntie/cousin/grandparents/uncle etc walks in unaware that little Jimmy is on his poverty porn school trip? How do they explain that to the service user and the child?
Personally, I think the trip is a stupid idea. If they are that fussed about children learning about food banks they should have a collection for one and maybe ask the volunteers to come in and do a talk about it.
If they are determined to go on a trip go to the local fire station instead.

Oh, and for those saying the kids would cheer services users up in their time of need- I think that is utterly ridiculous.
If I was at such a low point in my life that I had to use a food bank a gaggle of other people's children bestowing my weekly food allowance on me would probably tip me over the edge.

At first, I thought you were being unreasonable, as it came across as something you wanted to protect your child from. But looking at it this way around, yes I think you have a point, it is creating a bit of a spectator sport around those needing food banks.

Not everybody loves kids. I don’t particularly and if I needed a food bank and saw a bus load of children helpers at the food bank, I would turn around and go without.

Maybe you have never been poor, I am not poor now but I grew up poor. And I did feel ashamed and embarrassed about it. And actually children can be quite cruel and I was often mocked for having no money and being on free school meals. Now should I have felt ashamed, well no of course not, but it doesn’t change the reality. I think your post lacks an understanding of reality.