Empathy Day 2021
The pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have shown how important it is that we understand what other people are going through, and how powerful it is when we look out for each other.
So, on Empathy Day, 10 June 2021, we asked everyone to focus on other people’s feelings and perspectives, and put themselves in someone else’s shoes.
It was our biggest Empathy Day yet, with a 44% increase in schools’ participation and a reach of 305,000 children through schools alone. 137 library authorities now get behind Empathy Day – from just 19 in its first year (2017). The campaign trended in Twitter’s top ten for eight hours, and for the first time, BBC Teach curated a collection of classroom resources to help teachers mark the day. Learn more about our results
here.
Our author-led programme was launched by Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell and culminated in The Empathy Conversation with Michael Rosen, David Baddiel, Catherine Johnson, Professor Robin Banerjee and Miranda McKearney.
Click on the buttons below to explore each of the day's activities. Please note - Empathy Exhibition 'In My Shoes' contains some sensitive content and is suitable for KS3 and above.
#EveryDayEmpathyDay
It's not too late to take part in lots of our Empathy Day activities. Check out the ideas below.
Empathy Walk
The weekend is a great time to go on an Empathy Walk and consider your community in a new light. Then use your reflections to make an Empathy Resolution to make a positive difference. Click here to download an Empathy Resolution poster template, or design your own.
More empathy-boosting resources
Original 500 word stories from a range of authors. Check out the brand new stories for 2021!
Watch authors read some of our favourite empathy boosting books. Featuring four of this year's Empathy Shorts.
Amazing illustrations from a broad range of
talent interpreting the #ReadForEmpathy theme.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Empathy Day in a handy infographic. Welsh language version here.
Teacher and librarians - inspired to find out more?
We offer training for teachers and library staff wanting to develop practical, story- based empathy work. Our next course is on 10 and 11 March 2022. More information here.
