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First Give

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First Give

We run a fully-resourced secondary school programme that engages a whole year group in social action.

The First Give Programme is delivered through a fully resourced scheme of work that is interactive and student-led. Over eight lessons, the Programme encourages an entire year group of students to identify social issues in their area and engage with local charities that address them. The stufdents will then have the opportunity to compete for £1,000 of grant money. Teams will do this by advocating for their charity in a school competition. The scheme of work promotes many aspects of Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural education within secondary schools. It fits easily into a variety of different subject areas such as Citizenship, PSHE, RE and English. First Give provides all the lesson plans and resources including PowerPoints, hard copy Student Coursebooks as well as £1,000 grant money for each school to award to the charity of the winning class. In addition to this, First Give will also deliver an Assembly, Presentation Skills Workshop and host the School Final in order to further engage and inspire students.

28/08/2026

This week's ✨Friday Spark✨ comes from Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School!

Their reflection captures exactly what we hope every young person takes away from First Give: the confidence to believe they can make a difference, the opportunity to learn about issues affecting others, and the motivation to take meaningful action in their communities.

It was fantastic to see students engage so thoughtfully with local causes throughout the programme, culminating in a brilliant First Give Final that celebrated compassion, research and social action.

Well done to all the students, staff and charity partners involved 👏

26/08/2026

🌟This week we're sharing a case study that highlights the power of connecting young people with inspirational local charities.🌟

After learning about the work of Halifax Street Angels, students at Trinity Academy Halifax were inspired by a simple idea: small actions can have a lasting impact. They went on to create their own social action project, supporting incoming Year 7 pupils and helping them feel welcome and confident as they started secondary school.

Amy Calvert spoke with Lisa from Halifax Street Angels about the charity's work, the impact of the students' project, and why empowering young people to make a difference matters.

Read more here: https://firstgive.co.uk/charity-spotlight-halifax-street-angels/

24/08/2026

As we get ready for the new academic year, we're also taking a moment to reflect on the incredible impact young people made through First Give in 2025/26. 🎉

Across our partner schools, young people stepped up as changemakers, raising awareness and funds for causes they care about, leading campaigns, and making a real difference in their local communities. Their passion, creativity and determination have been truly inspiring. ✨

If you're a school in London or Essex, did you know that our funding partner, the Jack Petchey Foundation, runs the Achievement Award Scheme? The programme recognises outstanding young people aged 11-25 who have gone above and beyond, whether through leadership, perseverance, community action, personal growth or supporting others. Award recipients receive recognition and can direct a £300 grant to benefit their school or organisation. 🏆

If you've seen a young person excel this year, now is the perfect time to make sure they're recognised. Schools and youth organisations not yet on the scheme can find out more and sign up here 👉 https://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/opportunities/grant-programmes/achievement-awards/

14/08/2026

This week's ✨Friday Spark✨ comes from Leeds West Academy, and one of our brilliant community judges:

Over the past year, hundreds of community judges have given their time to support First Give Finals in schools across England and Wales. In just a few hours, they witness something extraordinary: young people standing up for the causes they care about, sharing the action they've taken in their communities, and demonstrating the confidence, compassion and leadership that give us all hope for the future.

We challenge anyone to leave a First Give Final without feeling a little more optimistic about what's possible when young people are empowered to make a difference.

A huge thank you to every community judge who supported First Give this year, and to the young people at Leeds West Academy and all our partner schools for continuing to inspire us with your passion, creativity and commitment to social change. 💜

If you're interested in becoming a judge for First Give sign up here:👉 https://firstgive.co.uk/judge/

And if you'd like more inspiring stories from schools and communities across the country, sign up to our supporter newsletter, First Give Connect:
👉 https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/458722/184643774154016635/share

13/08/2026

"𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲."

That's the message we heard from young people at Nower Hill High School as they reflected on their experience of the First Give programme.

In our latest case study, students share how First Give helped them build confidence, develop leadership skills, work together towards a common goal, and recognise their ability to create positive change in their communities. 🌱

Thank you to the students and staff at Nower Hill High School for taking part and sharing their reflections. We're also grateful to the Jack Petchey Foundation, whose support enables us to deliver First Give at Nower Hill and in schools across London and Essex. 💜

Read the full story here ➡️

12/08/2026

🌟Thank you Pears Foundation🌟

Sir Trevor Pears and Sinclair Beecham's shared vision of a more generous generation was the starting point for First Give back in 2014. As we prepare for next academic year, we want to take a moment to say how incredibly grateful we are for the continued support of the Pears Foundation. For over a decade, they have been a vital partner in realising our shared vision of young people acting to make a positive difference in their communities.

Their commitment has helped us bring First Give to schools across England and Wales, giving thousands of young people the opportunity to build confidence, develop essential skills and engage with causes that matter to them.

Thank you to the Pears Foundation, and of course to Sir Trevor Pears, for your vision, your trust and your invaluable support. We are proud to have you alongside us on this journey.

07/08/2026

Our Friday Spark this week comes from Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, who joined the Dixons Newall Green First Give Final as one of our community judges.

At First Give, we invite judges from the local community because they bring valuable insight into the issues young people are exploring. Just as importantly, these events create meaningful connections between young people, charities, community leaders and civic institutions, helping to build a shared sense of responsibility for local communities.

When community members attend a First Give Final, they see first-hand the confidence, empathy and social awareness that young people bring to tackling local challenges. They leave with a greater appreciation of the role young people can play in strengthening their communities.

We're always delighted when MPs have the opportunity to see our programmes in action and witness the passion, thoughtfulness and capabilities of the young people we work with.

Thank you to Mike Kane MP for giving his time and sharing such generous reflections, and congratulations to everyone at Dixons Newall Green Academy (Dixons Academies Trust) on a fantastic programme this year. We look forward to working with you again soon! ✨

If you'd be interested in becoming a community judge for First Give get in touch - https://firstgive.co.uk/judge/

06/08/2026

📣 Wales and the South West (Bristol, Bath, Devon & NE Somerset)!

We're looking for an enthusiastic, confident and motivated Freelance Facilitator to support our work empowering young people at First Give.

We’d love to hear from people who:
➡️ Are motivated by supporting young people to drive social change
➡️ Communicate clearly and effectively
➡️ Are able to positively engage a wide range of stakeholders including young people, teachers, school senior leaders and guests

🗓 Applications close: 17 August at 9:00am
👉 Read more and apply: https://firstgive.co.uk/career-opportunities/

17/07/2026

Our ✨Friday Spark✨ this week comes from Dixons Allerton Academy!

As we come to the end of another school year, we're seeing the impact of First Give across England and Wales firsthand.

A core aim of First Give is helping young people understand that they can make a meaningful difference in their communities. Just as importantly, they learn that many of their peers care about the same issues and want to take action too.

Research on the values-perception gap suggests that young people often underestimate how compassionate their peers are. This misconception can hold them back from working together to create change.

First Give gives young people the opportunity to build trust, collaborate with their classmates, and see the impact they can have when they act together.
Thank you to Dixons Allerton Academy (Dixons Academies Trust) for this testimonial, and to all the schools we've partnered with this year for helping young people make a difference in their communities. 💜

Read more about the values-perception gap here 👉 https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/insights/news/new-research-reveals-children-are-held-back-by-the-misconception-that-their-peers-are-not-compassionate-0

10/07/2026

This week's ✨Friday Spark✨ comes from King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy, following their first year of delivering the First Give programme.

Receiving feedback like this from a headteacher makes us incredibly proud. It speaks to so many of the outcomes we strive for through First Give: young people feeling empowered, finding their voices, developing compassion, and recognising their ability to make a positive difference in their communities.

It's particularly exciting to hear this after a school's very first year on the programme. King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy fully embraced the experience, and it's clear their students rose to the challenge, demonstrating the confidence, empathy, and leadership that First Give aims to nurture.

A huge thank you to everyone at the school for delivering such a fantastic debut programme and for championing our mission to inspire the next generation of active, compassionate citizens.

If you'd like to see similar outcomes for the young people in your school, we'd love to hear from you👉 https://firstgive.co.uk/join/

Address

London

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442074435171

Website

http://www.firstgive.co.uk/

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