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Assemblies for Schools

Please find below the details of the assembly we are currently able to offer schools, and scouts and guides groups.
Our assembly aims to help children and young people understand what a foodbank is and how we help people. It can also serve as an introduction to the theme of social justice. The assembly is ideally suited for KS1 and KS2 (children’s ages 5-11).
Children can participate in a simplified demonstration of how the foodbank works. We use the available space (eg your assembly hall or a large classroom) divided into 3 specific areas.

 

Participants can include:

  • A driver and a driver buddy at the Collection Point. We show the food being brought from the collection point to the warehouse using our mini foodbank van. Drivers dress up and wear a cap/woolly hat.
  • 2 volunteer sorters to do a sorting activity at the Warehouse.  They dress up in tabards and sort the items into packs.
  • 2 volunteer greeters and 2 foodbank customers at the Foodbank Centre to do a mini role play. They show the exchange of food / vouchers.
It takes about an hour including the set up and icebreaker and we can provide almost everything; we just need 3 tables, some chairs and some willing participants! There’s usually a little time at the end for Questions and Answers too.

FAQ – 50 minutes is a long time for our children to sit – do you offer a shorter assembly?

Please be assured that the assembly is suitable for the full primary age range, and we’ve delivered it many times in lots of different settings with children of different ages.

Our interactive foodbank assembly has a clear structure with 3 “stages” of the foodbank journey (Collection Point, Warehouse, Foodbank Centre), and lots of different activities to help keep the children engaged. We start with an icebreaker chatting about favourite foods, including a guessing game, and there’s some music too.

We then invite children to come to the front and put food items (which we provide) into the Collection Point to demonstrate the power of collective action. We usually involve the younger children in this, so they get the chance to get up and move around a little.

We also have our model Foodbank Van, which children can help load and “drive”, with a dressing up opportunity (tabards and a woolly hat!) The other children can join in with the sound effects as the van reverses.

As we go through the journey of the food, there’s a sorting activity (Warehouse Stage), some role play (with a toy dog and a doll in the Foodbank Centre, and they can pretend to pour cups of tea) and there are other opportunities for children to come to the front. We also use props to help explain some of the different reasons why somebody might need a food bank; for example one of the children will be invited to wear a bandage to represent an injury preventing someone from working.

There’s a “magic trick” in there too, which usually helps keep everyone’s attention!

So although the whole assembly lasts around an hour (including set up), the children aren’t expected just to sit and listen for that length of time. There’s plenty going on, and we usually find that younger children enjoy watching and joining in too.

For assemblies that start later than agreed, we can leave off the Question and Answer part at the end, and we’re happy to answer any children’s questions by email afterwards.

What does it cost?

There is no charge for the assembly. But please feel welcome to make a donation to our charity!

Yes please, we’d like to book the Interactive Foodbank Assembly

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please use this Foodbank Assembly Booking form  or  contact us and we can make preparations and schedule your booking.
Limited availability. Harvest is a busy time! Please book early for 2027 Harvest assemblies to avoid disappointment. Thank you.