Voice network activities - taking action

It's entirely up to you which activities you decide to try, and you can do them in whatever order you'd like. 

If your school isn't already part of the Cost of the School Day Voice network, and you'd like your young people to get the chance to take part in meetings, events and activities, just sign up to get started.

In your school, there will be lots of great things happening to reduce the cost of the school day and challenge poverty. Have a think about what some of these are, and decide which ones you are going to promote on your posters.

First, decide...

• Will you make posters individually, in pairs or as a group?
• Will your poster promote one of the things your school does, or more than one?
• Who is it for? Pupils, parents or everybody?
• What materials will you use? Digital or with paper and pens or paint? You can be as colourful and creative as you like!
• Where will it go? Think of places people are likely to see it, like the noticeboard, school app or near the office.

Pupils and their families say it's really important that everyone knows about help with costs, and posters are a great way of spreading information.

The Cost of the School Day group at St John Ogilvie High School in South Lanarkshire created posters to let the rest of the school know what help was available and encourage pupils to come forward and take what they need.

Some Cost of the School Day groups have their own social media accounts where they share information about what they’re up to, ask questions to their school communities and raise awareness of support available in school.

Auchenharvie Academy (@AuchenharvieT), Holyrood Secondary School (@HolyroodCOTSD) and Braes High School (@OnandUpBHS and on Instagram at instagram.com/braes_cosd) have all used social media accounts to share information about what they're doing.

Pupils from West Calder High School’s Cost of the School Day group in West Lothian say:

“We promote our events on a regular basis through our social media platforms. This has been a very powerful way of catching the attention of our local MSP as we tag them and then our posts get more attention too. We continue to raise awareness of cost of school day through our weekly snapshots which are sent to all of our families and people within our community.” 

Here are a few questions to help you think about how your group might use social media:

• Who do you want to reach? Pupils, parents, school staff? People in your community who can help? Councillors and politicians who need to hear what you have to say?
• Which social media platforms are they likely to be on? X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook?
• How will you use your social media account? What will you say and how often?
• Who in your group will post on your account and keep it up to date? What help might you need from your group leader? 
• Are there any risks or potential problems that you need to think about before setting up an account?
• Can your Cost of the School Day account link up with your official school or local authority one? Even more people will see what you say if another bigger account reposts it.

3. Creating your own costs calendar

Raise awareness of cost issues in your school and promote the help available to families.

As a group, you can have a think about all the different events and days that happen at your school. Which ones mean you need to spend money? As a group, you could help decide which events are most important for your school. Are they well spaced out? How much money is being asked for? 

You can make your school costs calendar as colourful and interactive as you like.

Abbey Primary School in South Lanarkshire created their own cost calendar. To get you started, you'll find the Cost of the School Day Calendar below.

When you're setting up a resource like this, here are a few things to consider:

• What are the most common things people need for school? Can you find out?
• Think about how you can stock a take-what-you-need trolley. Your school might be able to help with funds for this, or you might be able to get donations from local businesses or organisations. 
• Where should your trolley be? Where can you put it so that all pupils can access it?
• Who is in charge of making sure the trolley is stocked up? Is this something your group can do?

5. Reviewing uniform policies

Be part of policy decisions in your school and ensure that young people's voices are heard in important discussions.

Uniform costs can put pressure on family budgets. Your group can work with pupils and parents to help review your current uniform policy and make sure it’s affordable for everyone

Keith Grammar in Moray took a whole-school approach to reviewing their uniform policy, and came up with a simple and affordable policy together. 

Some things to think about:

• What do you currently need to wear to school?
• How much does it cost to get fully kitted out for school? You can look online at your uniform suppliers to help add up the total cost.
• Are there certain items of uniform that only some years need to buy? Is this difficult for some people to afford? Can you find out? 
• How many items of uniform must have a school logo on it? Are there things we can do make this more affordable?

At Newton Primary in South Ayrshire pupils came up with fun and free activities at their Christmas Fayre. 

Pupil fundraising committees can make sure these days don’t put pressure on families, making sure there are no set donation amounts and operating a ‘chuck it in a bucket’ approach where money collections are in central areas of the school and young people can discreetly provide a donation without worry.  

What could your group do to make charity and fun days more affordable?  

7. What would your group ask politicians and the people in charge of education?

Schools do a lot to make sure that all young people can take part and get the education that they are entitled to, no matter how much money they have at home - however, it’s politicians and the people in charge of education who make the big decisions about things like how much money schools get and what kind of help is there for families on lower incomes.

It's really important that, when the people in charge of education make decisions, they know young people's views on school and what could make things as good as possible for everyone.

So what would you like to ask or tell them?

How to get started

Your group could discuss:

• What do you think about what was said in the film? Are there any parts you think are really important? Was there anything that it didn’t cover?
• Do you agree about the most important school costs? Why or why not?
• Do you have any Big Ideas about what could help?

• When it comes to poverty, costs and support at school, what do you want to say or suggest?
• Is there anything you think politicians need to know?
• Is there something you think they should do to help with the cost of the school day?

If you’d like to share the questions you come up with directly with politicians and the Scottish government, we’re happy to help – send them to [email protected]. Or if you want to get in touch with your MSPs directly you can find their details on the They Work For You website.