How we work.

1. Safeguarding

Our campaigns take place in schools, with children and young people. Their safety comes first. That means:

• The school stays responsible. Campaigns run as part of school life. A teacher is the contact person and is present at the pitch and on counting day.
• Never alone. At campaigns we are always at least two people or together with a teacher, never alone with an individual child.
• No private contact. We do not message pupils privately via messengers or social media. Arrangements go through the school, the teacher or our official channels.
• Photos only with permission. We only photograph children whose photo consent has been given. We never name children and prefer showing crates and groups over individual faces. If you no longer want a photo online, write to us and we will take it down.
• Taking concerns seriously. Anyone who notices something that isn't right can speak to the head teacher or to us. We listen, write it down and pass it on to the school. In an emergency, always call 110.

Help and advice in Germany, anonymous too: the national helpline on sexual abuse (Hilfe-Telefon Sexueller Missbrauch), 0800 22 55 530, free of charge, and the children's and youth helpline Nummer gegen Kummer, 116 111.

2. Food safety

We only collect what the Tafel can safely pass on.

• Only non-perishable food and hygiene products, unopened and in their original packaging, within their best-before date.
• Nothing from the fridge or freezer, nothing homemade, no medicines.
• On counting day we check every item. Anything that doesn't qualify is sorted out and not passed on. The full list is in the packing list.
• The rules of the local Tafel come first. We never hand out food directly; everything goes to the Tafel.

3. Donations and partners

• No money through the website. Until our charitable status is recognised, we do not collect money online or issue donation receipts. You can see where things stand on our transparency page.
• Staying independent. Partners support us with crates, transport, prizes or money. We decide how campaigns run and which Tafel receives the donations.
• No advertising to children. Partners are named and thanked, but we do not advertise products in schools. We never pass on pupils' data.
• Not from everyone. We do not accept support from alcohol, tobacco, gambling or arms companies, or from political parties.
• Being open. Once we accept money, we will name those who support us financially and show what the money is used for.

4. Working with the Tafel

We are not a food bank of our own and we don't compete with the Tafel. We bring it donations that would otherwise not reach it. We agree every campaign with the local Tafel in advance: when it collects, what it needs most and which rules apply. We only use the Tafel's name as agreed with it.

5. Fairness and voluntary giving

• Taking part is voluntary. Nobody has to bring anything, and nobody is singled out for not bringing anything.
• We only count and compare whole classes, never individual children. Who gave what is neither recorded nor published.
• Everyone is welcome, whatever their background, religion, gender or financial situation.

6. Conflicts of interest

If someone in the team has a personal connection to a partner, a school or a supplier, for example through family or a job, they tell the team. The rest of the team then makes the decisions involved. Nobody in the team gains any private advantage from their work for Jam The Van.

7. Team conduct

Everyone at Jam The Van is a volunteer. Everyone who takes part knows these policies and follows them. That includes:

• We treat each other, schools, families and the Tafel with respect.
• No alcohol and no smoking at campaigns.
• Heavy crates are carried by two people. If someone gets hurt, the school's first aid is responsible.
• What we learn about schools, families or partners stays with us.

8. Handling money

At the moment we do not accept any money. Once we do: every expense is recorded with a receipt, and at least two board members decide on any spending. The accounts are checked once a year, and we publish on our transparency page how much money came in and what it was spent on.

9. Complaints and feedback

If something bothers you, tell us. Write through the contact form or to info@jamthevan.de. We confirm receipt and reply within 14 days. If the complaint concerns someone in the team, someone else handles it. Making a complaint will never put you at a disadvantage.

How we handle your data is explained in our privacy policy.