How can social action make a difference?

When people do things to make a positive difference to other people this is known as social action. People can try to improve the lives of people in the community or solve problems.

There are lots of ways of doing something to make a positive difference, in school or in your local area.

You might have helped raise money for good causes in school. This is an example of social action.

You might have also donated food to local food banks. Some schools grow and sell food. Schools may also run their own uniform exchange where people can swap old items of school uniform that they have finished with for items that they need.

Volunteering means giving up your time, for free, to do something to help other people.

Some people volunteer regularly with foodbanks, charity shops, youth groups, community centres or community gardens. Some people volunteer at special events, like fun runs or table-top sales.

Sometimes volunteers help people directly, like helping elderly people with shopping or helping to tutor a young person.

Campaigning is planning activities over a period of time in order to get something changed.

These activities might include:

• telling people about issues
• trying to persuade people in power to make changes
• holding a protest
• writing a petition

Some campaigns can be about local issues or problems. For example, campaigning to stop building roads or houses on areas where there are lots of trees or animals.

Some campaigns can be about global issues that affect people all over the world.

Many people try to improve the situation by doing practical things. This could be taking part in a litter pick with family or friends, or painting community spaces.

Some people have created community gardens, by planting trees, flowers and vegetables in shared areas so everyone can enjoy them.

Other people have set up community fridges. Shops, restaurants and local people donate food to put in the fridges. Local people can then collect food when they need it.

Raising money for charities is another way of taking social action. Charities are organisations that provide help to others and try to campaign to improve people’s lives.

You might have raised money for charities in school by having a non-uniform day, holding a school fete or doing a sponsored walk to raise money for charity.

Some charities work in Wales, like LATCH the children’s cancer charity.

Other charities work across the UK, like The British Heart Foundation, who are trying to find cures and treatments for heart disease.

Some charities work around the world, like Oxfam. Oxfam help people affected by disasters like earthquakes or wars.

Social action helps other people in the community, or the environment. But it also benefits the person doing the activity.

The benefits include:

• helping to improve the lives of other people
• giving something back to the community
• learning new skills
• meeting new people
• developing new interests
• being a part of a team