PRIMARY school children were given a glimpse of life for those less fortunate than themselves.

Eight pupils from Oakwood Infants School in Clacton traded places with homeless people by queuing up for their lunch at a soup kitchen.

Reverend Sean Fountain hosted the Year Two school council members at Pier Avenue Baptist Church where they lined up for their sandwiches as though they were service users.

The church is one of many offering a weekly soup kitchen, each having their own designated day and sharing the effort on Saturdays.

It has proven to be a crucial service for the many struggling to cope in the area due to a number of reasons.

Learning mentor Karen Warbis accompanied the group alongside headteacher Kathy Maguire-Egan, and several school governors, including Danny Mayzes.

Miss Warbis said: “It was really to give them an opportunity to experience what homelessness might be like.

“They were actually all very shy, I don’t think it was what they were expecting at all.

“The church was absolutely fantastic.

“Reverend Fountain is now going to be a governor at the school from September so we’ll have lots of new links with the church and that part of what they do.”

The experience follows a fundraising day for the town’s homeless which the school held in January.

A woolly hat day raised £157 for the church and is what led to Rev Fountain inviting the youngsters in for a visit.

As well as being served, they were given a tour of the kitchen and were full of questions afterwards, once the shyness had worn off.

Ms Warbis added: “They were asking about what food is made and how many people come in.

“That morning the soup kitchen had served about 24 people for breakfast so all of that was explained to them.

“In July we’ll be hosting our own Parliamentary Schools Council Speak Out event before the official one in November so they can deliver a presentation on the experience and what it meant to them for parents and staff.”