The Role of Charities and NGOs

Active learning helps Year 7 students grasp the complementary roles of charities, NGOs, and government by letting them experience real-world decision-making. Role-plays, simulations, and debates make abstract concepts tangible, helping students see why collaboration between sectors matters in solving social challenges.

• Year 7
• Citizenship
• 4 activities
• 35 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the distinct roles of government bodies, charities, and NGOs in addressing specific societal needs, such as poverty or environmental protection.
2. Analyze the primary funding streams for charitable organizations, including public donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of a chosen charity or NGO by examining its stated mission, operational activities, and reported impact on a specific issue.
4. Identify the key challenges faced by charities and NGOs, such as volunteer recruitment and retention, and fluctuating financial resources.

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: Government vs Charity Scenarios

Assign roles as government officials, charity workers, and community members facing issues like food insecurity. Groups brainstorm solutions, present to the class, and vote on the most effective approach. Debrief on overlapping responsibilities.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between the roles of government, charities, and NGOs in addressing societal needs.

Facilitation Tip: For the role-play, assign clear roles (e.g., local council, charity, NGO) and require groups to draft a one-minute proposal before negotiating, ensuring all voices contribute.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Jigsaw

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Charity Research Jigsaw

Divide class into expert groups on specific charities like Oxfam or Trussell Trust. Each group researches funding, challenges, and impact, then reforms into mixed groups to teach peers. Create shared posters summarizing findings.

Prepare & details

Analyze the funding models and operational challenges faced by charitable organizations.

Facilitation Tip: In the jigsaw activity, give each expert group a different charity or NGO to research, then have them teach their findings to home groups using a structured template.

Setup: Flexible seating for regrouping

Materials: Expert group reading packets, Note-taking template, Summary graphic organizer

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Simulation Game

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Funding Simulation Game

Provide mock charities with budgets facing events like economic dips. In pairs, students allocate funds between operations, marketing, and reserves, then compare strategies class-wide. Discuss real-world implications.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the impact of specific charities on local, national, or international issues.

Facilitation Tip: During the funding simulation, set a fixed budget for each group and introduce unexpected financial shocks to mimic real-world funding instability.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 40 min·Pairs

Impact Debate Carousel

Set up stations with charity case studies. Pairs rotate, debating pros and cons of impact claims, supported by evidence. Conclude with whole-class vote and reflection on evaluation criteria.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between the roles of government, charities, and NGOs in addressing societal needs.

Facilitation Tip: For the debate carousel, rotate groups every three minutes to ensure exposure to multiple perspectives, and provide sentence starters on the board to scaffold arguments.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should emphasize interdependence between sectors rather than competition, using concrete examples students recognize. Avoid oversimplifying by framing charities as gap-fillers; instead, highlight their advocacy and innovation roles. Research shows role-play and simulations improve civic understanding by making systemic issues feel immediate and personal, so allocate time for reflection after activities to solidify learning.

What to Expect

Students will explain how charities and NGOs support government efforts without replacing them, using examples from their activities. They will justify funding choices, evaluate impact, and articulate the strengths and limits of each sector’s role in society.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Role-Play: Government vs Charity Scenarios, watch for students assuming charities can fully replace government services.

What to Teach Instead

During the role-play, stop groups mid-negotiation and ask them to tally the costs of their proposed charity solutions. Compare these to the council’s budget to show why charities rely on government frameworks for scale and sustainability.

Common Misconception

During Charity Research Jigsaw, watch for students assuming all NGOs operate internationally with no local focus.

What to Teach Instead

During the jigsaw, require expert groups to include at least one local example in their research. When teaching home groups, ask students to name one UK-based NGO and explain how it addresses national issues, correcting broad assumptions through peer sharing.

Common Misconception

During Funding Simulation Game, watch for students assuming charities have unlimited funds from donations.

What to Teach Instead

During the simulation, introduce a sudden 30% drop in donations mid-game. Ask groups to adjust their budgets and explain how this reflects real-world funding challenges, making the precarious nature of charity finances visible.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After Role-Play: Government vs Charity Scenarios, pose the question: 'Your local council has limited funds. Which three services should they prioritize: parks, schools, or support for the homeless? Explain your reasoning, then discuss how a charity could help with the services the council cannot fully fund.' Use student responses to assess their understanding of interdependence and sector roles.

Quick Check

During Funding Simulation Game, provide each group with a short case study of a fictional charity. Ask them to identify: 1. The main social issue the charity addresses. 2. Two potential sources of funding for this charity. 3. One challenge it might face in achieving its goals. Collect responses to assess comprehension of funding realities.

Peer Assessment

During Impact Debate Carousel, have students work in pairs to create a Venn diagram comparing the roles of government and charities. After completing their diagrams, they swap with another pair to provide feedback using a checklist (e.g., accuracy, completeness). Use this to assess their ability to differentiate roles and identify overlaps.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to design a new charity or NGO to address a local issue not covered by existing organizations, including a funding plan and impact strategy.
• Scaffolding: Provide struggling students with a partially completed Venn diagram template or sentence frames for debates to reduce cognitive load.
• Deeper: Invite a guest speaker from a local charity or NGO to discuss their work, followed by a Q&A where students compare their simulated experiences to real-world challenges.

Key Vocabulary

Charity	An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need. Charities often focus on specific causes like poverty, health, or education.
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)	An organization that operates independently of any government, often focused on humanitarian, social, or environmental issues. NGOs may engage in advocacy and direct action.
Civic Participation	The ways in which citizens engage with their communities and government to address public issues. This includes voting, volunteering, and supporting organizations.
Advocacy	The act of publicly supporting or recommending a particular cause or policy. NGOs often use advocacy to influence government decisions.
Public Donations	Money or goods given freely by individuals to support the work of a charity or NGO. This is a common funding source for many charitable organizations.