How It Works

First Give assigns each partner school a member of our experienced Programmes Team. With their support a Lead Teacher at school will coordinate the delivery of the programme during the term and curriculum area of your choice.

A First Give staff member stands before a large screen as if presenting to an audience

 1. Learn

Students are introduced to themes of charities and learn about social issues

A group of students sit working together round a table with a teacher standing next to them

2. Challenge

Students participate in a “charity challenge”, working in teams to run their own charity

Four adults sit on a stage with student audience members in the negative space below raising their hands to ask questions

3. Engage

Students engage with charity representatives to learn about their work in the local community

Two students approach a charity representative stood behind a stall

4. Decide

Students reflect on what they’ve learnt and make an informed decision about which charities they want to support

A student drops a purple token into a purple bucket to donate funds to charity

5. Give

Students are given tokens representing £5 to donate to their chosen charity or charities

Two students and a charity representative celebrate with ticker tape falling around them

6. Celebrate

Students celebrate their impact and reflect on future action they could take for causes they care about

“The programme provides a well structured approach to empathy. The resources and support offered are exceptional and participants gain valuable insights and develop skills that are not only practical but also impactful in the long term.”

The First Give One Day Package

Your school contributes £900 to run First Give One Day. In return, you get:

All the resources to deliver the day:

  • Full session plans and activity resources
  • Click and play PowerPoint slide decks
  • A hard copy of our Student Coursebook for every students in the year group
  • Student Charity Ambassador Certificates

The support of two facilitators in school to deliver:

  • A briefing for your teaching team
  • A Launch Assembly
  • Coordination of the day
  • A Celebration Assembly to end the day

Plus full support from your First Give Programme Manager who will be available from the moment you sign up.

A total of c. £1,000 in grant money for charities

Your students will allocate a total amount of c. £1,000 through small, individual donations to the charities who attend the day. This grant money is provided by First Give for every school.

How Students Support Charities

First Give supports students to learn about social issues in their community. Through the programme students will choose charities that they want to support through social action.

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How it works – The First Give programme

Our flagship programme has been delivered in schools across England and Wales since 2014. The programme invites young people to reflect on the social issues that affect their local community and inspires them to take action.

Learn more