19 School Fundraising Ideas for Children in Need Day

In this blog, you will learn:

• What Children in Need day is.
• 19 school friendly fundraising ideas for Children in Need.
• Discover more about our education recruitment services. 

Each November, Children in Need day is a fantastic opportunity to engage your school community in meaningful fundraising while encouraging pupils to think about the importance of helping others. Whether you're planning a simple classroom activity or a whole school initiative, there are plenty of school fundraising ideas to get involved in. 

If you’re looking for practical, creative and school friendly fundraising ideas, we have 19 ways to get you started.

What is Children in Need?

Children in Need is a UK charity led by the BBC, with the mission to help every child feel safe, secure and supported no matter what challenges they face. From mental health services to youth clubs, family support to crisis care, the charity funds thousands of projects across the UK that transform young lives.

The annual Children in Need day is usually held in November and is known for its iconic mascot, Pudsey Bear. In the run up to the day itself, schools, businesses and communities come together in a wave of fundraising activities which raise millions of pounds each year. It’s the perfect opportunity to empower pupils with the message that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

In 2024, Children in Need raised £39.2 million which supported projects such as The Wave Project, Stormbreak and A Million and Me. 

19 school fundraising ideas for Children in Need

Our favourite school fundraising ideas for Children in Need include:

• Dress up like Pudsey.
• Host a bake sale.
• Organise a talent show.
• Sponsored silence.
• Teacher vs student challenges.
• The great spotty run.
• Staff mystery box challenge.
• Guess the sweets in the jar.
• Teddy bears’ picnic.
• Charity car wash.
• Bear pong.
• Pudsey’s quiz time.
• Pudsey’s bingo bonanza.
• Pyjama day.
• Host a glitter ball school disco.
• “Read for a reason” challenge.
• Penny for Pudsey.
• Face paint Friday.
• Crazy hair day.

Dress up like Pudsey

From spotty socks to Pudsey ears, dressing up like Pudsey is a simple and effective way to raise money and get the whole school involved in Children in Need. 

Whether pupils come in their brightest yellow outfit or go all out with a homemade Pudsey costume, a themed non uniform day is a low effort fundraiser that can run across the whole school and helps build a sense of community while raising money for an incredible cause.

Host a bake sale

A bake sale is a tried and tested school fundraising favourite. Who doesn’t love a sweet treat for a good cause? Whether it’s pupils, parents or staff channelling their inner Mary Berry, whipping up homemade treats is a sweet and satisfying way to raise money for Children in Need. We suggest setting up your bake sale in the school hall, playground or even during break time and ask for small donations in exchange for the goodies.

To make it even more fun, why not theme the bakes around Pudsey Bear or hold a “bake off” competition with prizes for the most creative or delicious treats? It’s a brilliant way to bring the school community together and raise funds while enjoying something tasty.

Organise a talent show

Let your pupils take centre stage by organising a school wide talent show. To get the Children In Need spirit flowing you could invite students to showcase their talents and sell tickets to families and peers. 

We suggest asking a few brave staff members to be your judges or hosts to keep the energy high and the audience entertained. Talent shows encourage confidence, bring the school together in support of one another and can generate a large amount of funds through entry fees, ticket sales or interval refreshments.

Sponsored silence

Sometimes, silence really does speak volumes, especially in a busy school. A sponsored silence is a classic fundraising idea which challenges pupils, and maybe even teachers, to stay completely quiet for a set amount of time. 

Whether it’s a single lesson, a few hours or the entire school day, a sponsored silence not only raises valuable funds through sponsorships from friends and family, but also promotes self-discipline and awareness without saying a word.

Teacher vs student challenges

There’s nothing pupils love more than the chance to outsmart their teachers! Why not organise a friendly competition between students and staff? This could include a sports match, a general knowledge quiz or even silly challenges such as eating jelly with chopsticks. We suggest charging an entry fee for participants and having a fun prize or trophy for the winners. 

Teacher vs student challenges are a great way to build strong student-staff relationships  and raise funds through student participation.

The great spotty run

Why not take the classic fun run and give it a Children in Need twist? Invite pupils to take part in a short run around the school field while wearing bright, spotty themed outfits. 

To make the run even more exciting you could add obstacle stations such as crawling under nets, balancing on beams or hopping through hoops. 

Participants can collect sponsorships leading up to the event. The run promotes physical activity and teamwork, and is scalable for different age groups to keep things accessible and fun for all.

Staff mystery box challenge

Put your teachers to the test with a Children in Need themed "mystery box" game. This fun and messy activity involves teachers sticking their hands into mystery boxes filled with surprise items such as cold spaghetti, jelly, slime or baked beans, all while trying to guess what’s inside without peeking. 

We suggest making it even more fun by letting pupils vote on what weird and wonderful things go into the boxes for a small donation. Silly challenges are a great reminder that school fundraising doesn’t have to be serious to make a difference.

Guess the sweets in the jar

A simple but fun way to get people guessing, a jar full of sweets is always a popular way to raise money. Fill a large, clear jar with sweets and ask for a small donation to guess how many are inside. The closest guess wins the jar. Bonus points if you decorate the jar with Pudsey-themed designs to draw attention!

We suggest running several versions across different year groups or classrooms to boost participation. 

Teddy bears’ picnic

Bring a little extra fun to lunchtime by hosting a special Pudsey themed picnic in the school hall or playground! Invite pupils to bring packed lunches with yellow snacks or even teddy bear shaped treats, perfect for a “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”. 

You could ask for a small donation to take part or encourage families to contribute by donating themed food items. A picnic lunch is a fantastic way to make lunchtime feel extra special, give students a relaxed break and raise funds all at the same time.

Charity car wash

Many people love the idea of a sparkling clean car, but can never find the time to do it themselves. A charity car wash gives students the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. 

Parents and staff can book slots to have their vehicles cleaned in exchange for a donation. It’s a brilliant way to build teamwork, support the community and show off your school’s hardworking spirit - all whilst raising money for charity!

Bear pong

Bear Pong is a fun game that’s guaranteed to get everyone smiling. Pupils and teachers take turns throwing ping pong balls into cups arranged on a table. We suggest labelling each one with a prize or a funny forfeit. It’s a light hearted way to add some friendly competition to your fundraising day. You can charge a small fee for each go, with the chance to win different prizes. 

Why not set it up during lunch time in the school hall, or as part of a bigger fundraising fair? 

Pudsey’s quiz time

A classic quiz is always a winner and the perfect way to bring students and staff together in a battle of brains! 

Why not organise a themed quiz with different rounds such as general knowledge, Children in Need facts, music or even school trivia? Pupils can enter in teams with a small donation, and you could offer a fun prize for the winners. Whether it's competitive or just for enjoyment, a themed quiz is a brilliant way to raise money for charity while having fun.

Pudsey’s bingo bonanza

Bingo is a firm favourite with all ages and Pudsey bingo is a fun and easy way to bring a bit of excitement to your school day while raising money for a great cause. We suggest running it as an after school event and charging a small entry fee per game.

Why not create colourful themed bingo cards with Pudsey symbols or classic numbers? You could offer small prizes for line wins and a bigger prize for a full house to keep the excitement high. 

With the buzz of anticipation and many chances to win, Pudsey bingo is a low cost, high impact fundraiser that will have pupils, teachers and even parents eager to get involved.

Pyjama day

Who doesn’t love a cosy day in pyjamas? A pyjama day is a fun and easy way to raise money for Children in Need while keeping things relaxed at school. Pupils and staff can come to school dressed in their comfiest PJs, dressing gowns and slippers in exchange for a small donation. It’s a low effort idea that brings comfortable vibes and raises plenty of funds for a fantastic cause.

Host a glitter ball school disco

Turn up the tunes and get your glitter on with a Children in Need school disco. A disco is a brilliant way to get pupils moving while raising money for a great cause. 

Charge a small entry fee, sell snacks or glow sticks and let students dress up in their brightest, sparkliest outfits. It’s a high energy fundraiser which will bring the whole school together for a fun and memorable event, all while supporting children who need it most.

"Read for a reason" challenge

Why not encourage pupils to commit to a reading goal? This could be a number of pages, books or minutes read and collect sponsorships from family and friends. A reading challenge is perfect for quieter pupils or those who want to contribute at their own pace.

You could set a reading week and provide themed bookmarks, reading logs and certificates to keep students engaged. Not only does this fundraiser support Children in Need, it also fosters a love of reading and builds literacy skills.

Penny for Pudsey

Small changes can make a big difference. An easy way to raise funds for Children In Need is to set up collection jars in every classroom and challenge pupils to bring in spare coins to "fill Pudsey." You could even turn it into a competition to see which class can fill their jar first.

This activity is low effort and inclusive, making it ideal for younger pupils or schools looking for a simple, cost effective fundraiser. Penny for Pudsey is a great way to build excitement in the lead up to Children in Need Day and to show pupils how small contributions can have a big impact.

Face paint Friday

Brighten up your school corridors with a face painting fundraiser. Setting up a face painting station is an enjoyable and creative way to raise money. Pupils can choose small designs such as Pudsey’s signature spotty patch in return for a small donation. This is easy to set up with help from artistic staff or volunteers and brings a sense of fun and colour to the school day.

Crazy hair day

Let imaginations run wild with a Crazy Hair Day! Pupils and staff can come to school sporting the wackiest, most colourful hairstyles they can think of in exchange for a small donation to Children in Need. 

You could run a light hearted competition for the most creative or outrageous look and invite everyone to vote for their favourites. It’s a brilliant way to brighten up the school day, encourage creativity and raise money for charity with a splash of silliness.

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