In short...
Themes: the value of ing 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 / 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 - 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 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 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 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">