Chelmsford College Social Action Project 2026!
Social Action Day will be on Wednesday 18th March, but you can start your project early from the 16th of March.
In groups of 10 & no less than 5 in your tutor group, you have been set the challenge to raise £200 as a minimum for a chosen charity.
You will then have to create a project plan that highlights how you are going to reach your fundraising target. The project plan will outline your preparation, your execution and evaluation once you have reached the minimum target.
As you put together your project plan, don’t lose sight of the purpose behind Social Action. Take some time to get to know the charity of your choice and how your contribution will make a difference by helping the work that they do.
Watch this video to see highlights from previous years in other colleges Unloc have worked with.
Preparing for your Social Action Project
Ahead of Social Action Day itself, please complete the three tasks below so that you are as prepared as possible. By completing these tasks, you will be ready to make a big difference!
Task 1 – Understanding Social Action
Social Action is a term that has gained a great deal of traction over the last few years but what does it actually mean? It turns out that millions of us across the world take part in social action every day and don’t even know it. This is because there are various terms that are often used interchangeably and that all refer to social action.
Watch the video and think about the following:
- What does the term ‘social action’ mean?
- What are the various ways a person can participate in social action?
- Conduct some individual research to find groups or organisations who promote social action on an ongoing basis. What is the approach they take to giving back to society?
Task 2 – Charities
Identify an issue that you are passionate about. Research at least three charities that work in that field that you would be interested in supporting. They can be any charity; local, national, or international. Below are links to some of the charities that are local to the college. These are just some examples, you can research any charities of your choice.
As you do your research, here are some key questions for you to consider:
- Who/what does the charity support?
- Do you have a personal connection to the charity or their cause?
- How much of an impact can you / your group have if you were to work with them?
- Will the charity help you to support them? e.g. providing branded resources
- How might you raise money and actively support the cause?
Task 3 – Amplifying the cause
A big part about your Social Action project is to work closely with your
chosen charity and understand the work they do! As you start planning
your team’s schedules, think about the following questions:
1. How can my team amplify the cause that the charity is working for?
2. What are some ways we can share the work that they do? Example: Wear t-shirts of the charity, put up their posters, etc.
3. How is our project plan connected to the work that they do?
Task 4 – Team Roles
During your Social Action project, you will be working in a team with some of your other classmates. Look at some of the team roles below and see which role might play to your
personal strengths. Think about who you could work well with.
Social Action is a fun and safe environment for you to practise teamwork and some of these skills.
| Role | Useful Behaviours | Possible Tasks During The Project |
| Project Manager | Is responsible Listens to others Communicates well Is decisive |
Prioritises and assigns tasks Co-ordinates and oversees sub- teams Motivates the team Review outputs of other teams eg comms, presentation, fund- raising |
| Project Planning Team | Communicates with others Works well with others Listens to others |
Research Understands the project activities, resources, work streams and dependencies Communicates progress to project manager during the project |
| Comms Team | Communicates well Has good knowledge of communications platforms Has advertising skills |
Communicates progress to project manager during the week Download and store project evidence Sets up, monitors fund-raising pages Creates promotion materials |
| Presenting Team | Has knowledge of writing/ presenting to different audiences Writes convincingly Has a good oral delivery |
Communicates progress to project manager during the week Writes and delivers presentation Uploads presentation ahead of Friday |
| Finance Co-ordinator | Works with numbers Understands how to track figures Has knowledge of spreadsheet applications |
Communicates progress to project manager during the project Keeps track of expenditure and money raised |
| Fundraising Team | Solves problems Works with other team members Is creative |
Communicate progress to project manager during the project Devises fund-raising activities |
Social Action Project Planning Week Commencing 9th March 2026
You will be physically in college attending a tutor session to plan and prepare for this project. This will be within your tutor group.
Your Challenge!
In teams within your tutor group, you
have been set the challenge to raise £200 as a minimum for a chosen
charity. As you come up with ways to raise the money, think back to why
you’re doing this challenge, and how your contribution can make a
difference!
We can’t wait to see the impact that you have on your chosen charity!
Final Project Plan to be completed on Friday 13th March
This form is to be completed (one per team) by Friday 13th March at the latest!
As you come up with your project plan, think about the following:
- What is your team’s goal and approach?
- Do you have a timeline/schedule in mind?
- How are you communicating as a team?
- Who are some of the stakeholders you need to work with? How will you approach them?
- Does your team need to acquire any permissions from authorities? For example, if you want to book a room/put up a stall somewhere, you would need to ask the appropriate people for permission before doing so.
Unloc Team members will be available at each college campus on the 11th of March 2:15pm – 4:30pm
During your Social Action Project – 16th to 17th March (if you wish to begin early) and on SOCIAL ACTION DAY 18th March
#ChelmsfordSocialAction
Let the world know about your efforts by
posting photos (at least a few times a day) of your activities and
achievements and using the hashtag #ChelmsfordSocialAction. We will be
monitoring this hashtag feed throughout the week and engaging with you!
There is also a prize for the team with the best social media campaign!
Please contact either your college or Tim ([email protected]) from the Unloc Team if you are having any problems or challenges during the week.
Prepare Your Presentation
At the end of the social action project
you will be presenting in your tutor groups. You should prepare your
presentation during the week and attend your tutor session ready to
present. Remember, there are awards and prizes up for grabs so make sure
you spend good time on this in the week.
Presentations will take place between the 23rd – 25th March 2026
March 2026
Your tutor will need to submit the following form below with your group information and total money raised!
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
- Most creative and innovative project – decided by Chelmsford College staff and the Unloc Team
- Project most linked to the cause – decided by Chelmsford College staff and Unloc Team
- Most money fundraised – awarded by the Unloc Team
- Group showing the best teamwork – decided by Chelmsford College staff and the Unloc Team
- Best social media campaign – decided by the Unloc Team
- Best presentation – decided by Chelmsford College Staff
