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  • Make a Difference Challenge - annual licence

    Make a Difference Challenge - annual licence

    ONLINE SUPPORT: Your Make a Difference Challenge Annual Licence package includes online CPD certified training and a wealth of resources to guide, inspire and support quality social action in your primary school. Read more

  • Make a Difference Challenge (premium package)

    Make a Difference Challenge (premium package)

    FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING AND SUPPORT: Our Make a Difference Challenge (premium package) includes a whole-day training session, an annual licence to run the programme in your school and access to our online training. Read more

  • Make a Difference Challenge - annual licence
  • Make a Difference Challenge (premium package)
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  1. What we do
  2. Programmes
  3. Make a Difference Challenge

Make a Difference Challenge

Inspire your pupils to lead change!

Making a difference to society

The Make a Difference Challenge is a child-led social action programme that empowers our youngest citizens to be community change-makers. The project challenges pupils to research and identify a social or environmental issue that they feel passionate about. Issues could be anything from homelessness to racism to climate change. Pupils then make a difference to their issue through awareness raising, fundraising or taking practical action. The Make a Difference Challenge provides an excellent context for meaningful SMSC learning, pupil voice and character development.

This programme enables primary aged children to get a real understanding of the issues communities face, and take the lead in addressing the causes or effects of their chosen issues. Pupils learn to empathise with those who are disadvantaged, recognise the role of government, voluntary groups and charitable organisations and consider the part they can play in bringing about positive change. 

The impact of the Make a Difference Challenge

The Make a Difference Challenge has been running for more than a decade, involving thousands of children and producing many incredible stories of young people’s compassion and resilience. You can read about the difference which children have made to their selected issues and get inspired to lead your own by reading more about some of the Make a Difference Challenge projects. 

Pupil-Powered Projects 

There are two ways in which teachers and educators can access the Make a Difference Challenge:

  • through our online Annual Licence;
  • through our Premium face-to-face programme (only available in selected areas).

For more details of each of these, plus other social action resources and training available to you, click on the thumbnails below.

Make a Difference in a Day

Make a Difference in a Day

FREE DROP DOWN DAY: Support primary aged children to Make a Difference in a Day to a community space near you by delivering our drop down day. A free resource pack for teachers comprising session plans, PowerPoints, social action activity suggestions and a pupil workbook. Read more

Published: 17th March, 2021

Updated: 26th March, 2021

Author: Richard John

Introduction to Social Action for Primary Teachers

Introduction to Social Action for Primary Teachers

ONLINE TRAINING: SHORTLISTED FOR THE TEACH PRIMARY AWARDS 2020. Thanks to a grant from the Pears #iwill Fund, primary school teachers can sign up for a free online training course on the importance of social action and how to introduce activity with your pupils. Find out more... Read more

Published: 19th May, 2020

Updated: 3rd March, 2021

Author: Richard John

Social Action in Community Spaces

Social Action in Community Spaces

ONLINE TRAINING: This FREE one hour CPD certified online course is an introduction to the importance of supporting children and young people to take a lead in improving the physical landscape of where they live. Read more... Read more

Published: 18th May, 2020

Updated: 26th March, 2021

Author: Yvonne Richards

Make a Difference Challenge - annual licence

Make a Difference Challenge - annual licence

ONLINE SUPPORT: Your Make a Difference Challenge Annual Licence package includes online CPD certified training and a wealth of resources to guide, inspire and support quality social action in your primary school. Read more

Published: 15th May, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2021

Author: Richard John

Making a Difference From Home

Making a Difference From Home

HOME LEARNING PACK: This activity pack supports children to make a difference from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Help children realise that their actions of compassion and support can make a big difference to society. Get involved - social action has never been more important. Read more

Published: 8th April, 2020

Updated: 26th March, 2021

Author: Richard John

Make a Difference Challenge (premium package)

Make a Difference Challenge (premium package)

FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING AND SUPPORT: Our Make a Difference Challenge (premium package) includes a whole-day training session, an annual licence to run the programme in your school and access to our online training. Read more

Published: 6th August, 2019

Updated: 26th March, 2021

Author: Richard John

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Showing 10 of 6

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    ‘Living and breathing’: Breadth and Depth in SMSC Education

    The former Assistant Vice Principal from Kingswood Secondary Academy shares her experience of the National SMSC Quality Mark for benchmarking their SMSC provision and creating an action plan to embed further deep-rooted change.

  • We are recruiting a Partnerships Coordinator

    We are recruiting a Partnerships Coordinator

    Are you a highly-organised, skilled communicator who enjoys building relationships and is passionate about delivering excellence? Use your skills to help engage and empower young people to become active citizens. Closing date: 9am, Thursday 6th May.

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    Mock G7 Summit - Student Videos

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  • British values

    British values

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    Importance of citizenship education

  • 7. The importance of citizenship education

  • Free SMSC Resource for Key Stage 2

    Would you like a free lesson to help you develop KS2 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats".

  • Go-Givers Free Trial Pack

    Would you like a free trial pack of lessons to support pupils' SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility" for KS1 children and the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats" for KS2 children.

  • Mock Trials

    Mock Trials

    The Mock Trials are an effective and fun way of helping young people understand how the judicial system works. Learn how you can get involved...

  • Why teach citizenship?

    Why teach citizenship?

  • Lowering the voting age to 16

    Lowering the voting age to 16

    Here, we give teachers a little support for debating the topic in class with students. Do young people of this age know enough about politics yet? And if they could vote, can they be trusted to do it sensibly?

  • Free SMSC Resources for Key Stage 1

    Would you like some free lessons to help you develop KS1 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility"

  • Introduction

    Introduction

    We are an education charity that inspires young people to play an active role in society. Find out more...

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curriculum games Highbury Corner key stage 2 ks2 Magistrates' Court Mock Trial Competition MCMT Mock trials Political Engagement scheme of work worksheets Young People Youth Engagement
I’ve just got my money back via a ‘Small Claims Court’. Would young people know they can do that?

I’ve just got my money back via a ‘Small Claims Court’. Would young people know they can do that?

Our CEO tells of his own recent experience of using the law to protect his rights, and explains why basic legal understanding is vitally important for all young people, if they're to be confident young citizens. Read more

Published: 12th March, 2018

Updated: 18th September, 2018

Author: Tom Franklin

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