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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.

11/06/2026

Following the launch of our independent evaluation this week, we’ve been reflecting on the impact for schools as well as their learners.

Teachers report clear shifts in students’ confidence, purpose and civic capability. Across the programme, young people build skills in public speaking, teamwork and planning. More importantly, they develop a sense of agency, seeing themselves as people who can make a difference and whose voice matters. 📣

This is reflected in the student quote shared during the Q&A panel at our evaluation launch.

The evaluation also shows how First Give strengthens schools as civic institutions. 91% of teachers say it helps students tackle social issues, and 88% say it enables schools to play a more meaningful role in their local community.

By connecting students with local charities, schools are not just delivering enrichment but creating real opportunities for engagement, responsibility and community connection. 🤝

You can read the full evaluation and explore the findings in more detail, explore our programmes and Join First Give below 👇
Evaluation ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/building-momentum-from-the-moment-unlocking-lifelong-philanthropic-citizenship/
Our Programmes ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/our-programmes/
Join First Give ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/join/

Education

09/06/2026

Following the launch of our independent evaluation yesterday, we want to reflect on why these findings matter.

At a time when many young people struggle to feel a sense of belonging or see how they can contribute to society, evidence of what works in schools is critical 📊

The evaluation provides robust evidence of impact and, just as importantly, insight into how that impact is achieved. It shows what happens when young people are given structured opportunities to develop agency, confidence and a sense of belonging through real‑world social action.

Participation in First Give leads to lasting engagement.

65% of young people go on to further social action after taking part, with 61% attributing this directly to the programme. This is well above the national average for youth social action and points to long‑term engagement, not short‑term enthusiasm.

As we work towards a more generous and connected society, this kind of durable impact matters 🌱

If you’re interested in supporting this work at scale, you can read more in the blog and explore how to get involved through our Route to a Million campaign. 👇

Read more and download the full evaluation ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/building-momentum-from-the-moment-unlocking-lifelong-philanthropic-citizenship/
Join us on the Route to a Million ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/route-to-a-million/

09/06/2026

✨We’re proud to share a new independent evaluation of the impact of the First Give Programme

In our latest blog, First Give Director Isaac Jones reflects on findings from an external evaluation by Dr Ali Body and Natalie Johnson at Global Action Plan.

Following Volunteers’ Week and the Big Help Out, it’s clear how powerful national moments of action can be. But the bigger question is how we make that participation last?

What’s exciting about this evaluation is how clearly it reflects what we see in schools year after year. When young people are given the chance to choose causes, connect with charities and take real responsibility for their decisions, something shifts. It goes beyond a one-off experience.

The findings show the role First Give can play in building that longer-term engagement, embedding opportunities in schools, reaching all young people and helping turn early experiences of giving into something that sticks.

Thank you to Dr Ali Body, Natalie Johnson and Global Action Plan, and to the schools, teachers, charity partners and young people who made this work possible.

Read the blog and explore the full report ➡️ https://firstgive.co.uk/building-momentum-from-the-moment-unlocking-lifelong-philanthropic-citizenship/

Eden Project Communities

05/06/2026

This weeks ✨Friday Spark✨ is Big Help Out inspired (how could it not be).

These are the words of Daisy Cooper MP, after witnessing the power of young people supporting causes important to them in their communities at St Albans Girls' School. Young people discovering they can create change and come together with and for their community.

Read all about the St Albans Girls School First Give programme 👉 https://firstgive.co.uk/st-albans-students-tackle-tough-issues-with-courage-and-creativity/

Feeling inspired and want to be part of this exciting national moment? Visit thebigdo.com to see how you can get involved this weekend. 💜

05/06/2026

🌟𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱!🌟

To every school, organisation and person getting involved - this is it. This is your moment to show what's possible when we come together.

For those schools already involved: Thank you!

For those just discovering us: It's not too late to get involved. Check out what's happening in your area here 👉 https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-do

Together, we're creating happier, healthier, safer communities. 💜 Eden Project Communities

04/06/2026

"𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞… 𝐢𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲."

Only 17% of UK adults volunteer once a month. As Volunteers’ Week and The Big Help Out (Eden Project Communities) highlight the importance of giving, the challenge is sustaining the habit.

Zainab Naeem shares how First Give sparked her ongoing commitment to volunteering, from age 12 to leading community initiatives at LSE. 65% of young people who participate in our programme go on to take further social action, and her story shows what that can look like in practice.

Read more here 👉 https://firstgive.co.uk/a-case-for-volunteering/

If you are looking for a way to get involved, volunteering as a First Give Judge is a great place to start.

Sign up here 👉 https://firstgive.co.uk/judge/

A big thank you to Zainab for sharing her story 💜

29/05/2026

Our ✨Friday Spark✨ this week comes from Tapton School!

At a time when many young people are searching for belonging, the First Give programme builds strong communities rooted in shared responsibility and purpose. By bringing different voices together around a common goal, young people see the impact they can have when they work as one 💬🤝

It is a powerful reminder that positive community action not only drives change, but strengthens connection both in and beyond the school gates 🌍

Thank you to Tapton School for another fantastic programme this year 🙌

28/05/2026

📢𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐎𝐮𝐭! 📢

There is just over a week left until the UK's biggest celebration of community on 5-8 June - and secondary schools can still join in!

We've created free resources to help your students take part:
✅𝟓 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✅ 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 & 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 ✅ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 - 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 ✅ 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐡

From Big Lunches with neighbours to community volunteering and student-led projects - help your students discover the difference they can make in their communities as part of this national moment.

Download your free resources now👉 www.edenprojectcommunities.com/schools

22/05/2026

This week’s ✨Friday Spark✨ comes from Ark Boulton Academy!
Through the First Give programme, young people connect with local charities, grounding their work in issues that directly affect their own community. That shared context gave them something real to work towards together, not just as individuals, but as a group.

At Ark Boulton, staff highlighted the strength of teamwork, with every student taking on a meaningful role. Working towards a common goal rooted in their shared community helped bring the group closer together and build a stronger sense of collective purpose.

Thank you to Ark Boulton (Ark) for such a purposeful programme this year 👏

21/05/2026

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁.”

Those were the words of Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, after judging our First Give Final at St Albans Girls' School last week.

Year 9 students showcased extraordinary support for local organisations tackling knife crime, domestic abuse, and human trafficking, impressing a panel that also included The Right Worshipful the Mayor of St Albans, Councillor Teresa Heritage and Headteacher Paul Kershaw. The passion, creativity and courage these young people showed was truly something to behold - huge congratulations to every student who took part, and to the winning group who secured £1,000 for Charlie's Promise. 🎉

This is exactly what happens when young people are given the space and tools to act. And with The Big Help Out 2026 (5–8 June) - the UK's biggest celebration of community - just around the corner, there's never been a better moment for schools to harness that energy.

We've partnered with Eden Project Communities to create free, flexible resources so that any secondary school can be part of this national moment. Download them here 👇
📥 http://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/schools

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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