Charity & School PTA Firewalk Planning Hub
Everything PTAs, charities and community groups need to plan, fund and promote a successful firewalk event - built from 500+ events run by The Firewalk Experience since 2014.
in the last 24 months
since 2014
firewalk team
The Firewalk Experience has helped UK charities, schools and PTAs raise over £1 million in the last 24 months alone across 500+ firewalks since 2014, rated 5.0★ from 81 Google reviews. This hub answers the most important planning, fundraising, press and safety questions in one place. Every answer is grounded in real events for charities including Skylarks, Feline Fine, Shine, Ambucopter, SeeD and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.
Watch a real charity firewalk
90 seconds inside an event - the build up, the training, the walk, and the celebration.
A Firewalker story: the night everything changed
Chris looked at me, grinning. ‘Are you sure you want to do this? It's really hot.’ That single sentence lit something inside me. I took a breath, stepped forward, and walked. The world disappeared. There was no sound, no fear, no thought, just power.
Felicity O'Brien, Chair of the Blue School PTA
“Wow, wow, wow! What an amazing experience! Chris was absolutely amazing, inspiring and so relatable. He was absolutely flawless at getting us ready and pumped for the firewalk. Many lessons learnt, confidence gained and friends made, all in one night. I'd give 10 stars if I could!”
Olivia Schwartz · 2 months ago · Google Review
“I did the firewalk this week in an event organised to support Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. It was fantastic from beginning to end - Chris kept the mood light, entertaining and motivational. Everyone in the group braved at least 2 firewalks so it was definitely a success! Most of all he really helped drive the fundraising.”
Ruth Wakefield · 2 months ago · Google Review
“It's been two days since my firewalk and I still feel like I can take on the world. Chris' instruction and ability to uplift you into forgetting all the anxiety and fear is second to none. Being able to tick this off my bucket list and raise an amazing amount of money for the school I work for has been a highlight of my career.”
Louise Phillips · 7 months ago · Google Review
Answers at a glance
Quick answers to the highest-intent questions on this page, with a link through to the full guide for each one.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How much can a charity firewalk realistically raise? | Most well-run events raise between £3,000 and £10,000; The Firewalk Experience has helped raise over £1 million in the last 24 months alone, including £12k for Ambucopter and nearly £9k for Feline Fine. Read more |
| Is firewalking safe and is it insured? | Yes - up to £5m-£10m public liability cover, written risk assessment, qualified first aider on site. Insurers rate firewalking safer than five-a-side football. Read more |
| Do walkers need training before they can firewalk? | Yes - a pre-walk seminar (usually 90 minutes for charity events) is required before anyone steps onto the embers, and every walker signs an electronic waiver. Read more |
| How hot is a firewalk really? | Around 700°C (1,300°F) on the embers, hot enough to melt lead and fry bacon and eggs - measured by laser thermometer at recent events. Read more |
| What surfaces can you firewalk on? | Almost any - grass, playing fields, car parks and gardens all work, protected by heat-retardant boards and turf layers. A grass field is preferred. Read more |
| Why does local press matter so much? | Local news sites have high domain authority and a long content shelf-life, so a single article keeps driving donations and SEO long after social posts fade. Read more |
Is a charity firewalk right for our cause?
Deciding whether to run a firewalk fundraiser at all.
Is firewalking painful and what is it actually like?
There is a tingling sensation in your feet, not pain - most walkers describe it as a revelation about how they relate to fear and discomfort. You may pick up tiny 'firekisses', and you will smell of smoke afterwards.
Full guide: Everything you ever wanted to ask about a firewalk
Why does walking barefoot on fire create a personal breakthrough?
Firewalking deliberately models the ‘I could have died - I'm OK!’ emotional surge, opening a window for lasting change in the days afterwards. That euphoric survival moment is exactly what triggers the breakthrough.
Full guide: Firewalking barefoot and the surprising breakthrough it offers
Should you run a circle of sharing at your firewalk event?
Yes when the group is bound by a shared cause that affects them personally - it deepens the emotional impact. Skip it for pure thrill-seeker or social events where it can feel forced.
Full guide: Should you offer a circle of sharing at a firewalking event?
Planning and running your firewalk event
Logistics, paperwork, training, venue and the people on site.
How do you prep walkers and your event for the day?
Walkers should avoid heavy meals, bring snacks and water, and pre-sign the waiver. The Firewalk Experience team handles venue, wood, build and clean-up - your job is to keep walkers calm and informed.
Full guide: Prepping for a firewalk: what should you do?
Do walkers need training before a firewalk?
Yes - training is required and ranges from a 90-minute pre-walk seminar at charity events to multi-day programmes like the ten-day Talent Campus. Each seminar is built bespoke for the group's purpose.
Full guide: Do we need training before we can firewalk?
Can you run a firewalk on any surface - car park, garden or playing field?
Yes - heat-retardant boards and multiple layers of turf protect almost any surface, and a site survey is done in advance (often via Google Maps). A grass field is preferred and lets us extend the lane on the night.
Full guide: Can you run a firewalk on any surface?
How do you get an alcohol licence for your firewalk event?
If your venue is not already licensed, apply to your council for a Temporary Event Notice (TENS) - straightforward but detail-heavy. Walkers themselves never drink alcohol before walking.
Full guide: Guide to alcohol licences and other paperwork for your firewalk
Who is in the fire crew and what do they do?
Two teams run every event: an in-room training crew (seminar lead plus tech) and an outdoor fire crew (firetenders) who load, build, light, tend, walk-test and clear the fire - all trained professionals, often the hardest-working people on site.
Full guide: Who is in your fire crew and what do they do?
Should you print team t-shirts for your firewalk?
Yes - branded t-shirts turn every social media photo into free advertising for your cause and make a great keepsake. Get a custom design from Fiverr for around £25 and build the shirt cost into the ticket price.
Full guide: Why getting team t-shirts printed is a good idea for your event
Safety, insurance and sign-off
Reassuring trustees, headteachers, parents and finance committees.
Do firewalkers need to sign a waiver?
Yes - an electronic waiver is signed during the pre-walk seminar so everyone is clear on what they are doing. The event is fully insured up to £10m, and insurers rate firewalking safer than five-a-side football.
Full guide: Do firewalkers need to sign a waiver before walking?
Is the firewalk insured and is it actually safe?
Yes - The Firewalk Experience carries up to £5m public liability cover, provides a written risk assessment, and has a qualified first aider on site at every event. Insurers rate firewalking as safer than most sports.
Full guide: You do have firewalk insurance, right?
What is the difference between hot embers and hot coals?
Genuine firewalks use wood embers from two-year-aged non-sappy softwood. Walking on actual hot coals (mineral coal) is never safe - if a provider calls it 'hot coals', check exactly what they mean before walking.
Full guide: What's the difference between walking on hot embers and hot coals?
Maximising fundraising from your firewalk
Hitting and exceeding your charity income target.
What are the best ways to raise more money at a charity firewalk?
A well-run crowdfunder typically delivers 85% of the total, with realistic targets of £3,000 minimum, £5,000 expected and £10,000+ achievable. Sponsors, BBQ and bar, raffles, t-shirts and matched giving stack on top.
Full guide: Ten ways to make money running a firewalk
Do firewalkers get a certificate?
Yes - properly printed certificates are available as an add-on (not biro-on-the-night). A celebrity signature on the certificate, like Steve Davis OBE for Feline Fine, can lift both attendance and donations.
Full guide: Do you offer certificates for firewalks?
Should you start a Facebook group for your firewalk?
Yes - a private Facebook group beats email or WhatsApp for sustained engagement, photo sharing, questions and post-event bonding among walkers.
Full guide: Should you start a Facebook event page for your firewalk?
Getting local press, radio and TV coverage
Driving sign-ups, donations and SEO with free publicity.
How do you write a press release for a charity firewalk?
A press release is a one-page document covering the what, where, when, who and why, plus a handful of strong photos. Local editors will often lift it almost word-for-word onto their site.
Full guide: How to write a press release for your charity firewalk
Is there a press release example you can copy?
Yes - a real Skylarks Charity firewalk press release is published in full as a template you can adapt for your own cause, with the right structure and quote-friendly flow editors look for.
Full guide: Terrific press release example for a firewalk charity event
How do you get free local radio and TV coverage for a firewalk?
Target three channels (traditional press, traditional broadcast, new media) at two stages (before and after the event) - local outlets are actively looking for local stories with strong human drama.
Full guide: How to get free publicity for your firewalk on local radio and TV
How do you do a great radio interview about your charity firewalk?
Plan for about ten minutes on air, let the host lead, repeat your URL clearly (or a memorable search phrase), and tell a passionate story that makes the listener care about your cause.
Full guide: Nailing a radio interview for your charity firewalk
Why does local press matter for a charity firewalk?
Local news sites are starved of local stories and have high domain authority, so a single article delivers long-tail SEO juice and ongoing donations long after social media posts have died.
Full guide: Why local press is important for firewalking success and fundraising
Capturing the moment with photos and video
Producing assets you can use for press, fundraising and future campaigns.
What kind of photos do you need to promote a charity firewalk?
Press want a press release plus dramatic photos - generic walking shots or feet-only images before the event, then real action shots, group shots and emotion shots afterwards.
Full guide: Why you need photos with drama and story to promote your firewalk
How do you take brilliant photos at a firewalk?
Hire a professional if you can - the low light and fast action are technically demanding, and good photos typically raise more in donations than they cost. Failing that, follow our tips on settings, angles and timing.
Full guide: How to take brilliant photos on a firewalk
How do you make a world-class firewalk video?
Budget at least £1,000 for a professional, shoot slow motion at 100fps, plan lighting carefully for low-light conditions, and edit fast for social sharing. The video becomes a lifelong record and a fundraising magnet.
Full guide: How to make a world-class video of your firewalk experience
The night itself: timing and atmosphere
Choosing the run time that creates real drama for walkers and audience.
Should you run your firewalk at night or in the day?
Night, almost always. The glowing red embers create the drama, atmosphere and photo opportunities that daytime firewalks (which look like grey ash) simply cannot match.
Full guide: What is the difference between a daytime and nighttime firewalk?
What is the best time of day to run a firewalk?
Light the fire about 30 minutes before sunset and plan to walk roughly 90 minutes later, once it has gone dark. Use a sunset app to plan timings - late summer means walking as late as 10pm.
Full guide: What is the best time of day to run a firewalk?
Trusted by UK charities, schools and corporates
SkylarksFeline FineSeeDAmbucopterLincs & Notts Air AmbulanceShineTenzingBlue School PTASt James's Primary PTANEPS PTAMiserden SchoolTalent Campus
About The Firewalk Experience
Chris Jones is the founder and Master Firewalk Leader at The Firewalk Experience, a bestselling author and the founder of TEDx Ealing. He has personally led hundreds of firewalks across the UK over the last decade, helping charities, schools, PTAs and corporate teams cross the embers safely while raising over £1 million in the last 24 months alone.
Recent firewalks in pictures
A glimpse of recent UK charity and corporate firewalks delivered by The Firewalk Experience.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a charity firewalk realistically raise?
Most well-run events raise between £3,000 and £10,000, with strong crowdfunder-led campaigns regularly exceeding that - The Firewalk Experience has helped UK charities raise over £1 million in the last 24 months alone, including £12k for Ambucopter and nearly £9k for Feline Fine.
Is firewalking safe and is it insured?
Yes - The Firewalk Experience carries up to £5m–£10m public liability cover, a written risk assessment for every event and a first aider on site. Insurers rate firewalking as safer than five-a-side football.
Do walkers need training before they can firewalk?
Yes - a pre-walk seminar (usually 90 minutes for charity events) is required before anyone steps onto the embers, and every walker signs an electronic waiver.
How hot is a firewalk really?
Around 700°C (1,300°F) on the embers, hot enough to melt lead and fry bacon and eggs - measured by laser thermometer at recent events.
What surfaces can you firewalk on?
Almost any - grass, playing fields, car parks and gardens all work, protected by heat-retardant boards and turf layers. A grass field is preferred.
Why does local press matter so much?
Local news sites have high domain authority and a long content shelf-life, so a single article keeps driving donations and SEO long after social posts fade.
Ready to plan your charity firewalk?
Tell us about your cause and we'll help you build an event that raises serious money, gives walkers a night they'll never forget, and looks brilliant in the local press.
Get in touch