Think about your school, the roads you travel on, or a hospital. None of these belong to just one family — everybody can use them. But someone has to pay to build and run them. Who, and how?
Things we all share
Some things are used by nearly everyone in a town or country, not just one person. We call these public services.
| Public service | Who it helps |
|---|---|
| Schools | Every child, so they can learn |
| Hospitals | Anyone who is unwell or hurt |
| Roads | Everyone who travels, walks or is driven |
| Parks and libraries | Anyone who wants to play, relax or read |
A class-trip idea
Imagine a class wants to go on a trip. The coach costs money, so the teacher asks each family to chip in a little. Some families could easily pay the whole amount, and others could not pay very much at all — but because everyone chips in something, the coach gets paid for, and every child gets to go, not just the ones whose families could afford it alone.
£5 × 30 = £150 — the coach is paid for, and everyone gets to go.
What is tax?
A country works in a similar way, but on a much bigger scale. Grown-ups who earn money, or buy things in shops, contribute a small amount called tax. The government collects all these small amounts and uses the money together to pay for schools, hospitals, roads and other public services that everyone can use.
Sort each example into the right group:
- A new hospital wing
- Repairing a pothole in the road
- A public library
- A family's own holiday
- A birthday present for a friend
Why chip in, even a little?
Just like the class trip, some families earn more than others and can afford to chip in more tax, while families who have less still get the same schools, hospitals and roads. This means that even if your own family could never pay for a hospital by themselves, one is still there when you need it, because everyone helped build it together.