The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is concerned at evidence showing that teachers are finding it increasingly difficult to spend time working with charitable organisations.
A study found that two-thirds of teachers say it is difficult to spend time working with charities because of the demands of the national curriculum, while 57 per cent cite school timetables and 54 per cent the focus on exams as barriers.
This is despite more than half (57 per cent) of teachers believing that getting children to work with charities boosts their attainment, while almost all the 200 secondary teachers polled said fundraising was a good way to motivate students and teach them social skills.
John Low, chief executive of the CAF, said: “Raising money and working to support charities boosts student motivation and social skills and can also have a positive impact on their academic work.
“It’s heartening to see the enthusiasm teachers have for working with charities, but it is important to recognise the benefits both socially and academically that our young people gain from working with and learning about charities. It’s important that teachers are given the support they need to incorporate charity work into busy school life and nurture the natural desire of young people to help others.”
The CAF has launched an inquiry into the growing generational gap in charity giving. Visit www.growinggiving.org.uk