“Don’t underestimate young people, because we can make a difference”

Since 2018, nearly 2,000 students at Nower Hill High School in Brent have taken part in the First Give programme.

We spoke to five students who participated last year: Insha, Lucas, Rhea, Krishay and Katie. Reflecting on their experiences a year later, they spoke about how the programme helped them develop confidence, independence and a stronger belief in their ability to make a positive difference in their communities.

Reflecting on their experiences a year on, they discussed the ways in which First Give had challenged a belief many young people hold about themselves and often feel is reinforced by the world around them: that they are too young to make a difference.

I think it’s important for young people to take part in the First Give programme because it gives them a sense of independence, and that they can really make a difference in society. I feel like a lot of young people think that they can’t make a difference because of their age, but the programme really gives you a chance to think about the difference you can make, and know that you can continue making a difference as you go through your life.

Insha, Student

Through First Give, students explored issues that mattered to them, selected charities to support, and worked together to design and deliver social action projects. Across the year group, students chose charities tackling issues including knife crime, food insecurity, mental health and racial discrimination.

For some groups, these issues felt particularly personal. Lucas reflected on why his class chose to focus on knife crime:

“Knife crime was quite a big talking point for us. When we looked into it, we realised how prominent it is, especially for our age, and it felt like something we had to address.”

For students, the opportunity to investigate issues they cared about and take responsibility for their own projects was a key part of the experience. Rather than being directed by teachers, they were trusted to make decisions, plan activities and take action.

As Head of Citizenship and long-standing First Give Lead Teacher, Faiza Issa believes this sense of ownership is central to the programme’s impact.

“It’s giving students a voice from a very young age. Not telling them to wait until they’re able to vote, but showing them that they can make a difference now by working together and supporting causes in their community.”

This ownership left a lasting impression on many students. Insha described how being trusted to lead the work themselves helped build her confidence and sense of agency.

“It made us feel, at least for me, that I had a sense of independence. The teachers did give support, but it really made you feel like you, personally, could make a difference. You were doing all the work, you were planning the social action and then you were researching the charity, and it really made you feel like you had that connection to making a difference.”

Students also reflected positively on the experience of working together towards a common goal. For Lucas, one of the proudest moments came from seeing his classmates unite around an issue they cared about.

“We all felt that we were driven to make a change and to learn more about the problem. We all wanted to learn, and we all wanted to make that difference, and we wanted to be active citizens about it.”

Students, including Lucas, shared their experiences of the First Give Programme

The impact was also visible to teachers. Faiza reflected on the growth she observed in students who had previously lacked the confidence to speak up in class.

“I’ve seen quieter students go from being that quiet student in the class to being a leader within their group. Seeing them step forward, contribute ideas, and lead, that’s been a wonderful experience.”

Across the year group, students delivered a range of social action projects, from fundraising events to awareness campaigns, helping raise £328 for charity while increasing awareness of important issues across the school community. The winning group secured a £1,000 First Give grant for Harrow Foodbank.

Yet for both students and teachers, the programme’s greatest impact extended beyond fundraising totals or competition outcomes. Instead, it could be seen in the confidence students developed, the leadership skills they discovered, and the belief they gained in their own ability to contribute to positive change.

A year later, that impact remained clear in the students’ reflections.

“It just shows that young people can do a lot. Our hard work really did go a long way” (Katie)

Perhaps the most powerful message came from Insha, whose words capture the lasting effect First Give had on how she sees herself and other young people:

Don’t underestimate young people, because we can make a difference. We do have minds of our own and ideas that we really want to share with the world. The message I want to give is: actually listen to our ideas, because we can make a difference, and we can do it in the best way possible.

By Sophie Willowes, Programme Delivery Officer for London & The South East