A collaborative scheme between the Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM) and Truro Foodbank, which saw a free family pass added to people’s foodbank parcels, has resulted in a 90% take-up rate.
The pilot scheme saw 80 family passes handed out over the six-week school summer holiday period. Of those, 72 were redeemed, according to the museum’s records.
Celine Elliott, the museum’s community engagement officer, came up with the idea after talking to a museum volunteer about targeted engagement.
“In Cornwall, postcodes are deceptive. You can easily have a millionaire in the same area as someone in need of a food parcel, because of the second home issue,” she said. “The question I had was: ‘If someone’s reliant on a foodbank, will they care about the museum?’
“The way the foodbank managed it was really key. They didn’t just put a pass in every parcel, they had a conversation with people about what they needed in their lives and if it would be useful for them, because sometimes people think it’s just not for them.
“I had a call from the foodbank a few weeks ago asking for more passes. I was really surprised to see the 90% uptake, it surpassed my expectations to be honest.”
As a result of the scheme’s success, it is being rolled out over the coming months to include non-school holiday periods as well.
Bob Girvan, the manager of Truro Foodbank, said: “We’re really pleased that there’s been such a good response to the museum’s free family passes and are delighted we can continue making them available.”
Elliott added that beyond philanthropy, the scheme would help serve as a historical record of the reality of foodbanks: “We’ve not done it to increase footfall. It’s an easy win inasmuch as we’re not losing custom, they aren’t spending anything to come to the museum.
“As an engagement worker I can make a nod to [foodbanks] by saying: ‘This is what’s happening right now’.” Elliott urged other museums to follow in the RCM’s footsteps.
The pilot scheme saw 80 family passes handed out over the six-week school summer holiday period. Of those, 72 were redeemed, according to the museum’s records.
Celine Elliott, the museum’s community engagement officer, came up with the idea after talking to a museum volunteer about targeted engagement.
“In Cornwall, postcodes are deceptive. You can easily have a millionaire in the same area as someone in need of a food parcel, because of the second home issue,” she said. “The question I had was: ‘If someone’s reliant on a foodbank, will they care about the museum?’
“The way the foodbank managed it was really key. They didn’t just put a pass in every parcel, they had a conversation with people about what they needed in their lives and if it would be useful for them, because sometimes people think it’s just not for them.
“I had a call from the foodbank a few weeks ago asking for more passes. I was really surprised to see the 90% uptake, it surpassed my expectations to be honest.”
As a result of the scheme’s success, it is being rolled out over the coming months to include non-school holiday periods as well.
Bob Girvan, the manager of Truro Foodbank, said: “We’re really pleased that there’s been such a good response to the museum’s free family passes and are delighted we can continue making them available.”
Elliott added that beyond philanthropy, the scheme would help serve as a historical record of the reality of foodbanks: “We’ve not done it to increase footfall. It’s an easy win inasmuch as we’re not losing custom, they aren’t spending anything to come to the museum.
“As an engagement worker I can make a nod to [foodbanks] by saying: ‘This is what’s happening right now’.” Elliott urged other museums to follow in the RCM’s footsteps.
In addition to its partnership with the foodbank, the museum also works with Truro Library to provide free family passes that can be borrowed and returned like a library book.
