We are looking forward to our trip to the Open Centre in Derby next Tuesday. Please see below advice from the Open Centre regarding what the children should wear.

All visitors are advised to wear trousers when visiting the places of worship. We recommend this for several reasons for example, if you are visiting during the colder months (as the group will walk from one location to another) it will help to keep them warm. We also recommend it for modesty reasons because in most places of worship we work with, visitors are required to sit on the floor and for this reason we feel trousers are more suitable when doing this. We do not expect visitors to go out and buy trousers, any type of trouser e.g. leggings, jogging bottoms or jeans are appropriate. We are also ok with girls wearing a skirt with thick black tights or leggings underneath, if they are unable to wear trousers. A head covering is also needed when visiting the Mosque or Sikh Gurdwara – please see ‘what type of head covering is suitable’ section for more information on this.

A head covering is needed when visiting the Mosque and Sikh Gurdwara. Visitors are asked to cover their head as a sign of respect when entering the building. At no point does this mean visitors will take part in any act of worship nor does it mean they have converted to the religion. Think of it like wearing a school uniform, this is part of the uniform people wear when attending these places of worship. It also gives visitors a first-hand experience of what it is like to be a Muslim or a Sikh (something many of our visitors enjoy about the experience – trying on something new). A woolly hat, scarf, cap or even a hood on a coat are suitable. We just ask that the caps have no offensive logos or profanity written on them and that the woolly hat is not in the shape of an animal, as for many of our places of worship, animals are seen as sacred and should therefore not be shown in this way. If you are unable to provide a head covering, the Open Centre has many spares that can be shared out.

In addition to his we ask that children wear their school t-shirts, jumpers/ cardigans. We hope that this helps in preparation for the trip.