Office sports day
Bring some playground competition into the working day.
An Office Sports Day is a fun way to get colleagues away from their desks, working together and enjoying some childhood-inspired games while raising money during Be a Kid Week.
How the activity works
Choose a handful of simple games and challenges that will work in your workplace, then split colleagues into teams and compete for points.
You do not need a sports field or specialist equipment. The best activities are usually simple, familiar and easy to join in with.
You could try:
- Beanbag target throwing
- Paper aeroplane competitions
- Balancing challenges
- Egg-and-spoon races
- Hoop challenges
- Team relays
- Desk-chair-free obstacle courses
- Three-legged races
- Throwing or accuracy challenges
- Quick-fire team puzzles
Award points for each activity and crown your Office Sports Day champions at the end.
You could ask colleagues to make a donation to take part, charge teams an entry fee or encourage each team to raise sponsorship.
Plan your activity
- Choose a date and decide how long your sports day will run.
- Find a suitable indoor or outdoor space.
- Pick a small number of games and challenges.
- Divide colleagues into teams.
- Decide how you will score the competition and raise money.
- Share the plan in advance and encourage people to get involved.
- Keep a scoreboard and celebrate your winning team.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your workplace
Small teams
Keep things simple with a handful of quick games that can be played in a meeting room, breakout space or outdoor area.
You could split into two or three teams, rotate through each challenge and keep score as you go.
If time is limited, run your Office Sports Day over lunch or choose one main team challenge that everyone can join in with.
Larger workplaces
Turn the activity into a department-versus-department competition and let each team choose a name, captain or colour.
You could run different activity stations, keep a central scoreboard and crown your Office Sports Day champions at the end.
Colleagues who do not want to compete can still donate, help run a station, keep score, take photos or cheer on their team.
Remote or hybrid teams
Choose activities that people can complete from their own location, such as paper aeroplane challenges, quick-fire puzzles, desk-based balancing games or team trivia.
You could combine scores from people in different locations, run a live video call challenge or let teams submit their results during the day.
Keep the rules clear and easy to follow so everyone can take part wherever they are working.
What you will need
You do not need specialist sports equipment. Depending on the activities you choose, you may need:
- A suitable indoor or outdoor space
- A small selection of simple games and challenges
- Basic equipment such as paper, beanbags, hoops, cones or cups
- A timer or clock
- A scoreboard or score sheet
- Team names or team lists
- A fundraising page, sponsorship form or way to collect donations
- Optional prizes or certificates for the winning team
Choose activities that use items you already have where possible, and keep the setup easy for organisers and participants.
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose activities that are suitable for your workplace, your available space and the people taking part.
Keep walkways clear, avoid trip hazards and make sure there is enough room around each activity station.
Avoid making speed, strength or physical ability the only way to succeed. Include a mix of accuracy challenges, puzzles, team games and low-movement options so more people can get involved.
Make taking part optional. Colleagues who do not want to compete can still support the fundraiser by donating, sponsoring a team, keeping score or helping to organise the day.
Follow your workplace’s usual health and safety guidance, especially if activities involve movement, shared spaces or equipment.
Keep the competition friendly. The aim is to bring colleagues together, have fun and raise money for Acorns during Be a Kid Week.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
