Creator and Conductor of Just1 Hugh Gibbons says...

Very many thanks for your interest in Just1. 

You should find the activities planned for this year to be seriously useful, interesting, helpful, and enjoyable all round. Each fits with no fuss into the school curriculum.  And each has been prepared to be suitable for all schools in the United Kingdom.

You'll also see that these events are free, voluntary, simple to arrange and run, need no special resources, and designed to fit neatly into ordinary school timetables.  And they're not about fundraising - though I know some schools will use them as a peg.

And each is very newsworthy - to help you project your good image into your local community.

Their purpose is to raise awareness, and provide some extra opportunities for involvement. The Just1 provide a set of simple social justice activities that unite not only everyone in a particular school, but have them do so alongside hundreds or thousands of like-minded schools. 

Just1 JustGiving Governors?
Taking part in Just1 events is entirely free. But members of school governing bodies and other wellwishers might like to stand up and take a much-appreciated supporting action of their own. It'll be a good story to share with the local media.

The suggestion is for a simple £1 per head collection -  perhaps made at a full governors' meeting - to be sent directly to one of of the aid agencies on the right.

 

One governor could do the collection and send it through on-line via the JustGiving link. This can show your school name and contribution - and, by implication, its values and ethos.

If you have another aid agency to suggest, let Hugh know and a JustGiving page can be prepared.

 

Many thanks.

 

Hugh

The current Just1 JustGiving pages
(orginally prepared for Schools StandUp 2009)
www.justgiving.com/standup4cafod

www.justgiving.com/standup4christianaid


www.justgiving.com/standup4sciaf


www.justgiving.com/standup4trocaire

Spring Up: Acclaim Campaigners
on Wednesday 24 March 2010 or any day that week is a new Just1 companion piece to Stand Up Against Poverty. The idea is that schools should have a day each year when they can honour and applaud all those organisations, group and individuals worldwide who campaign for human rights, social and economic justice - and against poverty.

Any time during the day - or that week - schools are invited to find a few minutes in classroom or assembly to share a short and simple tribute to campaigners. The suggested wording allows you to acknowledge your own favourite campaigning organisations. Many schools may want to use the occasion for actions in support of campaigners - such as letters of encouragement.

Click here to find out more about Spring Up: Acclaim Campaigners

March 24 has been chosen as the date each year because it lets schools pay tribute to the life and legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, the much-loved champion of human rights, assassinated during Mass on this day in 1980.

A message for all schools springing up
from Dr Lesley-Anne Knight
Director General of Caritas Internationalis

"Thanks for thinking of the campaigners
in all the agencies around the world. 
It's great to be appreciated.
Do join in on the day if you can. 
We'll be thinking of you too!"



The 162 national Caritas members make up the
biggest network of Catholic charities in the world
devoted to reducing poverty and campaigning
for social justice. Mostly members have Caritas
in their names, but not always - member identities reflect their different histories. Think CRS, CAFOD,
SCIAF, Cordaid, Trocaire, Secours Catholique,
CADEV, and Karina. All are Caritas -
and that’s only a start.

For Lesley-Anne's blog from World Economic Forum 2010 at Davos, click here

Stand Up Against Poverty & Inequality
on Friday 15 October is this year's version of the highly popular classroom rally.  In 2009 upwards of 100,000 people in the UK are thought to have shared the Just1 Promises to the Poor.  As before, this event is a contribution to the annual show of solidarity with the poor that attracts millions around the world - in fact, over 170 million in 2009.  It's ideal for faith schools and communities - but anyone can join in.

Stand Up just requires you to stand up in assembly or classroom and share some simple promises based on the UN Millennium Development Goals. Many schools also use it as an opportunity for further action - not least, writing to the Prime Minister!

Click here to find out more about Stand Up Against Poverty 2010

For information on GCAP and The United Nations Millennium Campaign, which co-ordinate the worldwide stand up, click here.

Weigh Up Your MP
is an industrial-strength addition to PSHCE activities - ideal for Citizenship studies in KS3 & 4, and Years 4&5 in primary schools.  It'll have major benefits for schools, Members of Parliament, and the UK as a whole.

It's a sort of Reverse Ofsted if you like (and gentler with it).

Following the General Election in 2010, schools invite all 646 MPs to volunteer to keep a simple record of his or her actions for worldwide social justice.  MPs publish this on their websites in April 2011.  In May/June, schools inspect and assess this record, and award the MP up to 3 stars.  This award is published on the Just1 website, giving details of the average ratings by all schools, and the ranking of each MP.

Click here to find out more about Weigh Up Your MP