Something for charity with my form

[Hannah654321]

I am a secondary school teacher based in the Midlands and have a year 9 form group.
I wanted to do something for charity with them but not sure what. Something on the lines of collecting toys, books etc and giving them to those less fortunate. Like the Christmas shoe box appeal, but maybe an Easter box?
Does anyone know of any charities that do something like this, or have any ideas of what we can do.
Thank you for any help.

Could you contact your local food bank for advice?

That is a good idea, I will have a look online. Thank you

Local hospital, children's hospice etc also worth contacting.

We donate to the foodbank at Christmas every year as a school. I imagine that at other times of year, donations are more needed.

Please remember that not all of the children in your form class will come from families who can afford to buy extra gifts or food. Some may even come from families who use food banks to get by. I appreciate that teaching children about charity is generally regarded as a good thing but I would rather my children were children were taught about why food banks exist in the first place.. low wages, zero hour contracts, the working poor, complicated benefits system etc. Our primary school sent out a kindness directive on the lead up to Christmas. One day the children had to bring a donation of pet supplies for the local animal rescue, the next food for the food bank, the next a toy for the toy bank. It was bonkers, putting time and financial pressure on already stressed out families - especially those with multiple kids. But we all did it, because our children would be sad to be the kid who can't afford to contribute. It's just another way for poor kids to feel excluded.

Maybe look at how they can volunteer their time instead. Helping at a food bank or a homeless team maybe?

Could you write letters to Post Pals kids?

Could you do something (no contribution too small) to raise £60 and then twin one of the school loos? Even better if you could harness the whole year group and be able to do two (one for a boys loo and one for a girls)

www.toilettwinning.org

@londongrub you are right, I didn't think about that. Although I could make it clear they do not have to contribute and donations are anonymous?

Could you have them create posters for the school advertising a foodbank donation box in reception. Then you could get more donations but no one is obliged to donate or bring things and give in front of their peers

I would definitely look at how to give back in ways that don’t have to cost - like encouraging their parent’s workplaces to have a food bank collection point, donating unwanted toiletries through Toiletries Amnesty, using Amazon Smile, downloading apps that donate to charity if you watch a video or view an advert and of course donating their time

My dds form tutor took them on a class litter pick round the park near their school!
Heaviest bag of rubbish at the end won a prize

@thechosentwo unfortunately we don't have a park close by but that is a good idea of the form tutor.
I am so rubbish at things like this but just want to do something extra with them.

[quote Hannah654321]@londongrub you are right, I didn't think about that. Although I could make it clear they do not have to contribute and donations are anonymous? [/quote]
But gosh you feel it when you can't let your kids take part in a whole class initiative.
Plus your desire to do good is thrusting a task on the parents.
I'd be impressed if you came up with something that just involves you and the kids. Something for the community or champion the random act of kindness day (nothing financial) on Feb 17th 2022.

But equally dissuade them all from the sick- making virtue signalling whilst promoting themselves on social media.
Would tie in nicely with some social media ethics discussions.

What’s the point? Is it linked to a subject or PSHE or something?

Have a look at Beauty Banks. You can put a a box in your room for them to leave donations, so no one will know who has/hasn’t given.

Or put them into teams of 4 or 5, give them £10 per team and they have to make as much profit as they can for the charity. (A bake sale will be a winner). Take the original ££ back, donate the rest.

Collecting things for new mums in need - baby baskets with toiletries etc in