Running your PTA

When the clouds disappear and the sun shines brightly, there’ s just one snack on everyone’ s minds: ice cream. To help you get the most out of this simple fundraiser, we’ re sharing the inside scoop on how to bring an end-of-theweek treat to your school

The first thing to consider is when to hold your ice cream sale. If you want to run these regularly throughout the summer term, we recommend saving them until the end of the week for a‘ Frozen Friday’ treat! An ice cream stall also makes a welcome addition to events like parents’ evenings, open days and school plays, and can be a great way to introduce new parents to your PTA.

Finding a good location for your ice cream stall will help make it a success. It could be near the school gate for parents to stop by as they take their children home, on the playground at lunchtime for a midday treat, or located in the school hall to accompany other events. Wherever you choose, make sure there’ s enough space for the equipment you need.

Everyone at your school will have different tastes, allergies and dietary requirements, so it’ s best to sell a variety of ice creams and frozen treats so everyone can enjoy them. There are plenty of dairy-free, nutfree and vegan products out there, and you can keep things simple and avoid cross-contamination by buying individually wrapped ice creams. Save money by buying in bulk from a wholesaler, such as our partner, Booker. Or buy supermarket own brands and try to negotiate a discount.

It’ s time to scream about your ice cream! Advertise your ice cream sales through newsletters, social media channels and posters around the school. It’ s a good idea to include prices, as well as whether you’ ll be taking cash, card or both, and add the location and timings of your stall so parents and pupils know where to find you. 18 PARENTKIND. ORG SUMMER 2025