by First Give
Innovation – Development of the One Day Programme
Read about ‘First Give One Day’ the exciting new programme we have been piloting over the first half of the academic year.
At First Give, we are passionate about empowering young people to make a difference in their communities. That’s why we’re excited to introduce First Give: One Day– a brand-new pilot programme designed to engage secondary school students in social action through a dynamic, structured and impactful day of learning, reflection and action. We are now halfway through our pilot programme and wanted to share with you how this new innovation is progressing.
What is First Give One Day?
First Give One Day is a specially designed drop-down day that immerses students in the world of social action, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to support causes they care about. The programme is fast-paced, engaging and interactive, providing students with a unique opportunity to learn about charities, understand social issues, and take meaningful action – all in just one day. The programme is specifically designed to compliment our core First Give programme.
What Happens During the Day?
Guided by our facilitators throughout the day the programme includes a launch assembly to inspire students, interactive activities such as a real-world simulation game and charity presentations where students hear directly from local organisations making a difference. Students reflect on their learning, engage in decision-making, and participate in ‘giving in action’ stalls. The day concludes with a celebration assembly, during which students are provided with five £1 tokens which they then ‘donate’ to their choice of the charities represented on the day.
Most people tried to divide the 5 coins as equally as possible, because everyone recognised the difficulty of making a decision between 3 worthy causes
Student at St Mary’s and St John’s CE School
Participant Feedback
Five schools have now completed a First Give One Day programme, reaching approximately 900 students and involving 15 charities. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the programme’s role as a catalyst for long-term social action and civic engagement. Our monitoring and evaluation shows that 85% of students who participated are now more likely to give their time, skills, and money to charity.
As one of the participating local charities Action for Race Equality summarised:
“We aimed to empower these young people to engage with their local communities and make a difference through meaningful connections with local charities.”
Extensive feedback and evaluation after each programme confirm that students are engaging with real-world social issues and gaining the confidence to contribute meaningfully to their communities. They are also developing essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.
A teacher at one of our participating schools highlighted the impact:
“The programme did a great job linking charity actions to big social goals such as eradicating poverty. It has raised students’ awareness of the importance of charity work in tackling these major issues.”
Another teacher praised the support and adaptability of the programme:
“The resources and support offered are exceptional, and the programme is tailored to effectively meet individual needs. Participants gain valuable insights and develop skills that are not only practical but also impactful in the long term.”
Students have also reflected on the significance of their experiences:
The end of this day really emphasised the reason why charities do the work they do, and the significance of helping people in need.
Student at St Mary’s and St John’s CE School
With five more pilot programmes planned for the spring and summer terms, we continue to refine and enhance First Give One Day before rolling it out on a larger scale next academic year.
We are immensely grateful to the schools who have welcomed us so far and to the charities who have shared their incredible work with students. Their support has been invaluable in making this programme a success.
As Saracens High School shared:
“We highly recommend the First Give One Day programme to other schools. Our pupils really engaged and are energised to make a difference in their communities. Thank you so much to your team, and we look forward to partnering with you again.”
How to Get Involved
First Give One Day is specifically designed to compliment our current programme. If you’re interested in bringing this impactful experience to your school in the 2025/26 academic year, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact our Head of Programmes Mike Anderson – michael@firstgive.co.uk
Giving feels good. It connects us to our community, gives us agency and a voice and frankly is essential for the survival of local charities. Through our brand new One Day programme, we give a full year group of students the opportunity to give real cash donations to charities that they learn about over the course of the day. We have been excited to work in collaboration with ten schools this academic year, discovering the many benefits for schools, students and charities alike. We look forward to expanding the programme to 20 partner schools next year, giving us the opportunity to build on this year’s learnings and impact
Isaac Jones-Director at First Give