In short...
Themes: the value of supporting a charity; Children in Need and Comic Relief; helping others.
Summary: this assembly is suitable for use all year round as a means of exploring the value of giving to charity - whether time, money or something else. It is particularly relevant on or immediately before Comic Relief's 'Red Nose Day' (March every year) and the BBC's Children in Need programme (November every year).
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf), an image of volunteers at a food bank and an image of a donation jar.
The video
Have you ever done anything to help others by giving to a charity?
We can all make a big difference to help others - for example, by raising money - but it doesn't have to be money. We can donate things or volunteer our time.
And with over 160,000 charities in England and Wales, there are plenty of opportunities to help out!
Some charities aim to help people who may need care and support - perhaps because they don’t have a home to live in or because they do not have enough food to eat.
Each year there are big charity fundraising events that schools can get involved in.
Every March, people all across the UK take part in events or fun challenges to raise money for Comic Relief.
Red Nose Day is a fund-raising day organised by Comic Relief to help people in the UK and all over the world too.
Children in Need takes place every November.
It funds thousands of charities all around the UK to help provide support for young people, through a broad range of projects.
For both events, whole schools can take part to raise money - baking cakes, wearing fancy dress, and singing and dancing.
We can also raise money for special causes by getting involved in an event - like a race - or by setting ourselves a challenge!
You can ask friends and family to sponsor you and, at the end, you give the money raised to your chosen charity.
6-year-old Isla is challenging herself to cycle 100km to raise money for a local community kitchen.
(Isla) It’s very cold and rainy, but it is fun!
After never having cycled before she has learnt to ride and now cycles 5km to school and 5km back every day, with the aim of reaching her target in one month.
(Isla) I am also going to raise money for people who might not have a home.
She is proud to be raising the money.
(Isla) Very happy!
As well as being sponsored for doing something, we can volunteer or help in our local communities too.
As well as helping others, it can feel very rewarding for us too.
Maybe litter picking…
(Child volunteer) I just want to make it a better place for everyone and people who are helping today are definitely making it a better place.
…or at a foodbank…
(Volunteer) I have met so many lovely people from such diverse backgrounds and it feels like family, it feels like a community spirit here. It keeps me coming back even on my days off.
These people are volunteering by helping to garden and plant seeds…
(Volunteer) I think it is really fantastic, you feel great, you meet new people, you learn new skills.
(Volunteer) It is amazing because you get out, you meet new people, and it is a lovely thing to do.
No matter how big or small our contribution, we can all get involved!
(Volunteer) It’s kind of like a good feeling, like you are doing something good for someone.
The impact of both Comic Relief and Children in Need is huge, helping children and young people in communities across the UK and the world.
Whatever you can do, it can make a huge difference.
What could you do to help?
The film explores some of the ways we can all support a charity and the value of doing so.
It has a particular focus on Comic Relief (Red Nose Day in 2025 will be 21 March) and Children in Need (in 2025 the programme will be on 21 November). Each year both Comic Relief and Children in Need provide information and packs for schools on how to join in with the fundraising events. See the Related links section below.
The film emphasises that helping others is part of building a happy, healthy community and that we all have a role to play.
Duration: 3' 45"
Last words: 'What could you do to help?'
Video questions
- What are some of the ways we can give to a charity? (Volunteering, raising money, making donations)
- Which two charities are referred to in the film? (Red Nose Day/Comic Relief and Children in Need)
- What are some of the ways mentioned for raising money? (Getting involved in an event; undertaking a challenge; asking for sponsorship)
- Why do people in the film say they are getting involved with a charity? (Meet new people; build community spirit; learn new skills; get out and meet people)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Image: a donation jar. image
Click to display image full size
Image: volunteers at a food bank. image
Click to display image full size
Suggested assembly framework
1. Entry
Play your chosen music and display one of the focus images if you wish.
2. Introduction
Ask pupils what they understand to be the meaning of 'a charity'. Ask if any of them have ever given to charity and, if so, what they did. Gather responses. When you are ready tell everyone: Today we're going to think about how we can make a difference by giving to charity. There are lots of ways we can do this - by giving money, but also by making donations or volunteering our time. You'll see some examples of giving to charity in this short video and, while we watch it, think about what you could do to help a charity.
3. The video
Play the video. The duration is 3' 45" and the final words are: 'What could you do to help?'
4. After the video - Time to talk
Aid pupils' recall of the video and consolidate their understanding of it by asking some, or all, of the following:
- What are some of the main ways you can help a charity? (Give money; make a donation; take part in a fundraising event; volunteer your time)
- Can you remember the two big fundraising events that happen in the UK in November and March each year? (Children in Need and Comic Relief / Red Nose Day).
- These two charities raise millions of pounds every year. Why do you think they’re so successful? (Looking for the awareness that they involve a lot of people - eg whole schools participating)
- Do you remember Isla’s story about cycling 100km for charity? How will this help homeless people? (She sets herself the challenge of doing it; people sponsor her money to do it; at the end she gives the money to the homeless charity)
- What else could you be sponsored to do to raise money? (Any sensible suggestion - eg sponsored walk, swim, silence)
- What did the people taking part in the video say were some of the reasons for helping a charity? (Not just to help others, but because it feels good; you meet new people; you get to do something new; you learn new skills; any other sensible suggestion)
Conclude by telling everyone: Turn to the person next to you and tell them what you would do to help a charity and why?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below
6. Opportunity for reflection
Focus your reflection on the people who rely on the support given by charities.
Sit quietly as we think about the things we've heard today…
Helping a charity can be a fun thing to do…but the reasons charities exist are entirely serious…
There are people in this country and all around the world who rely on the support of a charity…perhaps because they don't have enough food to eat…or a home to live in…or access to medical support…
We all have the opportunity to help others, whether by giving to charity, or by some other means…
Think about why it's important to help others when we can…
And think about a time when you needed support…and what it felt like when someone helped you…
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address ('Dear God', 'Dear Lord', 'Let us pray', etc) and:
Thank you for the charities that give support to people in the UK and around the world.
Thank you for the people who give their time and money to support those charities…and help to make the world a better place.
Help us to remember that we all have the power to make a big difference to those in need of help.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Being a friend' (All about our school, no 8. Vocal version)
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend is the best thing you can do,
Time and again it’s our friends that help us through.
You could be a millionaire,
Or fly a rocket to the moon,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever do.
Whatever we grow up to be,
And live in harmony,
Together we all need to see
That friendship is the key!
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
When I needed a neighbour - Vocal
When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
When I needed a shelter were you there, were you there?
When I needed a shelter were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
When I needed a healer were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
Wherever you travel, I’ll be there, I’ll be there,
Wherever you travel, I’ll be there.
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
I’ll be there.
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
I’ll be there.
Words and music by Sydney Carter. © Stainer & Bell Ltd
'Our school' - All about our school, no 9 (© Kate Walker / BBC)
In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We think of others,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We make good friends,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.
In our school
A happy place to be!
Related links
Red Nose Day in school - information from Comic Relief on how schools can get involved in Red Nose Day
Children in Need - download a schools fundraising kit - information from Children in Need on how schools can get involved in fundraising