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.

And nothing wrong with teaching kids about food banks and that the money fairy isn't available to all

Nothing wrong at all. As long as it isn’t done in a “hey kids, look at a real life poor person! Aren’t you lucky that’s not your mum” sort of way. (And things can come across that way, even if it isn’t the way in which it was intended. Especially when you’re dealing with very small kids who simply won’t understand nuance and social niceties.)

This. young children will have no idea about the realities of food god even little kids don't know they are living in poverty. Imagine a child saying oh my mummy comes shopping here or whatever.

The volunteers are trained and sign codes of conduct that protect the service users confidentiality. Neither applies to the children and the adults from the school.

Coming across a volunteer that you know would already be difficult, but you'll know that they've chosen to be there because they care. Not because they're just nosying around on a day out.

Food banks*

I think the trip is totally inappropriate, if the centre will be open at the time.

Especially for children of that age.🙄

Its shameful that we've got food banks, it's shameful that people need food banks, and it's even more shameful that they are gradually being integrated into the "welfare system" and normalised.

It's poverty tourism - the financially comfortable rocking up to be "sympathetic" towards those less fortunate.

Many people are ashamed of needing a food bank - it might not be right for people to feel that way, but they do, and it's their feelings that count. Their privacy and dignity trumps a school trip.

I'd be telling the school that you don't want your child attending.

Silly idea, and I'm surprised the school, or the food bank, think that this is a good thing to be doing.🙁

Dreadful, poorly thought out idea if they are coming into contact with service users. It would only be appropriate f they can take them and they can see the food bank setup, prep bags in a different area.

The service users dignity and privacy must be preserved.

If you're still around, OP, in your position I'd be calling the food bank and asking how this visit is going to be handled. Make it clear that it is the service users that you are concerned about, and put your point. if it is a Trussell Trust one (which I would suspect it isn't) and you don't get the answers you'd like, I'd contact their head or regional office.

I would be fine with it as long as they pointed out to the kids the unbelievable horror of the fact that in 2023 human beings in one of the richest countries on earth are reliant on charity to avoid starvation. I think if we're to have a hope in hell of fixing this, that lesson can't come soon enough.

It's horrific, and we've allowed ourselves to be made blind to that fact.

I get what you're saying, I just want to say that I don't personally think food bank use is shameful at all. The government are the ones who should be ashamed. At the same time, I can easily imagine someone feeling misplaced/unjustified shame for the fact that circumstances have led them to a food bank. I just think that some kid behaviours (e.g. some kids tend to stare, let's not pretend otherwise) could lead food bank users to find the experience harder than it needs to be unless they're carefully guided by the adults in charge.

Bunch you are making a huge assumption by stating that Food Banks have 'distribution' centres and parcels are issued in a separate location ... that may be the case in a large city but many FBs are run from small church halls (or similar) ... the donations come in, are sorted and given out. It's bad enough when well meaning members of the public turn up to give us donations when clients are queuing to receive their parcels but to have school children hanging around would be absolutely inappropriate.

We actually had one 'Lady Bountiful' type mother come up at Christmas when we were open, with her children, and stating a loud, condescending voice 'I wanted to show the DC how fortunate they are and have used their pocket money to buy Christmas treats'. I am sure she meant well but clearly wanted to be 'seen' ... otherwise why not drop her donations in the collection point in the supermarket although she's probably the type never to use a supermarket.

I'd love to see my local school teacher, TA and a class full of my kids peers if i was using a foodbank. Not

The school should go to a non local one

Yip to all of this even down to Christmas lady bountiful!

Why?

Lots of things like trips / activities have more than one outcome.

In some US elementary schools the children used to get a visit from the police who would teach them about finger prints, they then finger print the class. The child then took their fingerprint card home.

What the children didn't know was that it was so if they went missing the parent could hand over set of fingerprints to the police and parents had given permission.

It's gone out of favour as DNA is much better at identifying people.

As for the worry about uncle Jim or granny walking in, the food bank will either be closed or it will have volunteers role playing or someone that has used it and is happy to discuss it.

Have you read the thread? OP has stated that the food bank will be open and the children will be handing out the parcels.

The objections are not about the children's experience. They're about the high handed way in which those using the food bank while the children and their teachers are there, are having their dignity and confidentiality stripped away, to the point that they could be mortified and never return.

Any charitable organisation should have its service users as their priority, and this kind of visit during opening hours puts service users at the bottom of the pile.

We wrapped presents that had been donated by the community for families that had been referred to the particular service and helped the social workers/childrens centre staff etc load their cars. That ok?

You sound like you think people visiting food banks should be feeling embarrassed? Why would a adults asking for help cause them to feel anything towards children helping out at a food bank?

People using a food bank shouldn't be embarrassed. But it doesn't mean they won't feel like that. I think respect and dignity for people using these services is far more important than using them as a learning opportunity for children.

I can't even imagine the extra work having 90 5/6 yo kids in a foodbank would give the volunteers. Secondary aged kids maybe who could easily fill a bundle of bags but not primary.
The foodbank have duty not to piss off the volunteers too.

It's wrong on so many levels. But one I don't think anyone has mentioned is kids taking a fancy to biscuits or sweets that they aren't normally allowed. I can see a tantrum coming - why am I not allowed those....mummy says they are too expensive/ too sugary / too whatever

Oh and hoe do they ensure the foodbank is a safe place for any allergy sufferers

I would have to speak with school and get a better idea of what the kids will be doing, because handing out food parcels is not right.

I've not kept up with the thread. Has OP updated as to what the kids will actually be doing please?

The kids will be handing out parcels.

I agree with you, OP. I think it's really crass. Reminds me of the odd thread you get on here when someone is complaining about an entitled teen and it's suggested they take them to the a soup kitchen to see some poor people. It's dehumanising.

I'm all for children learning about food banks, fundraising etc.

OK, thanks. Do we know have the service users given permission for the kids to be there?

As in, have they been told in advance that between 9 and 11 on whatever date, there will be children there, but the food bank will be open all day for collection?

I can see how service users may not want kids handing out stuff, but in OPs first post I didn't see that was her objection. It read more like she was concerned as to "what if one of the kids used that food bank". But maybe I read it wrong.

This has echoes to me of the Victorian/Edwardian custom of "slumming it", where benefactors would visit the poor in their homes, to see how dreadful it was; some indigent families rebelled at being paraded as a spectacle, even in those days.
A "behind the scenes" visit, so that they can see how the operation works, is one thing, but people visiting the bank deserve their dignity and privacy.
I also think you are right to query the risk assessment.

As I said earlier, I refer some of our service users to food banks. They hate that they're in that position. Many ARE embarrassed, whether you think they should be or not, and I have to work hard to persuade them to go.

They absolutely should NOT have to run the risk of being gawped at by a load of school children when they get there, or risk coming across people they know who are accompanying those children, having not signed a confidentiality form.

It is a bit eye rolly that some people say ‘but they shouldn’t be embarrassed’ as if that’s the end of it. Someone on MN doesn’t think it’s embarrassing so that’s it.