It has long been cited that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for young people at school, this couldn’t be more so. Not only does it boost concentration and attainment, leading to better outcomes, but new research from children’s charity Magic Breakfast has also found it improves their mental health and wellbeing.
A whopping 83% of the charity’s partner schools agreed that the Magic Breakfast provision has impacted positively in this area. Out of these, 20% thought mental health and wellbeing was significantly better and 64% somewhat better. In addition, 81% of schools saw a positive impact on social skills as a result of pupils receiving breakfast from the charity.
Magic Breakfast currently offers a healthy, nutritional breakfast to around 200,000 children and young people each school morning in some of England and Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas. By ensuring young people have access to breakfast the charity can, not only tackle hunger, but also help improve mood, enhance social skills, and set pupils up for a better day ahead.
Now it is calling on people up and down the country to help in its mission by joining the annual Great Big Breakfast event this February. As well as raising money to help feed more youngsters, by getting together with friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours for a fun breakfast, those taking part can also get their day off to a flying start.
Joining in couldn’t be easier! Simply go to www.magicbreakfast.com to download a digital fundraising pack. Breakfasts can take place at any point in February and hosts are encouraged to ask guests for a £3 donation to attend. This can provide a child with a nutritious breakfast for two weeks. It’s that simple.
For those who can’t manage a breakfast, that’s no bother. Parties can be held at any time of the day. How about a weekend brunch? Hosts can even hold a special three-course ‘Brinner’ party (breakfast for dinner)! The location can be anywhere, and breakfasts can be held at home, in a local community hall, workplace, or even with guests wrapped up outside for an alfresco breakfast picnic in the park. It’s all about socialising, having fun and improving wellbeing. Magic Breakfast will be sharing photos from the Great Big Breakfast events throughout February. Simply tag the charity with the hashtag #greatbigbreakfast to get involved.
Marcus Wareing, star of ‘Marcus Wareing’s Tales From A Kitchen Garden’, is throwing his weight behind the campaign. He said: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when it comes to our young people. They are the next generation, and we need them to learn and expand their imagination. They can’t do this on an empty stomach. That’s why, as a chef, it is fabulous to support Magic Breakfast and their annual Great Big Breakfast event. I would like you to sign up and take part. Invite your friends, family and loved ones over and charge them £3. This is enough to feed a child for two school weeks, which is quite extraordinary.”
Long-term Magic Breakfast supporter and star of BBC Comedy ‘Juice’, actor Russell Tovey, added: “The fact that there are kids with food anxiety just blows my mind. It’s not fair. It’s not right. Please get behind Magic Breakfast and take part in their annual Great Big Breakfast event. All we’re asking is that every person who takes part donates a minimum of £3 – enough to feed a kid breakfast for two school weeks. Easy right!! No kid deserves to go hungry.”
The research exploring the impact of Magic Breakfast’s provision on mental health and wellbeing was well documented by the charity’s partner schools.
One school in Birmingham said: “Breakfast bagels have helped this group of children to come into school and settle. Behaviour has improved overall but the importance of friendship has been highlighted as breakfast is eaten together within the classroom. This has proved to be important for the pupils’ mental health in many ways.”
Another in Rotherham commented: “We have a pupil in Y6 who most days was late. The family were also in financial difficulties, so we were unsure if the child was getting fed breakfast in the morning. We encouraged this child to start coming to breakfast club. After a period of a couple of weeks they started attending regularly. They were on time for lessons and were eating a healthy breakfast. We noticed a huge impact on this child’s well-being, an increase in their friendship groups, and they were more focused when working.”
And a third from Leeds added: “Children come to school knowing that there is food ready for them so the anxiety of saying there’s no food at home has been removed.”
Chief Executive at Magic Breakfast, Lindsey MacDonald, said: “As well as tackling the widespread issue of hunger, we know that by providing breakfast, we can help make a real difference to a child’s day. Children and young people’s mental health has been firmly in the spotlight for the past couple of years and it is so encouraging to hear the positive impact that Magic Breakfast’s support is having in helping to improve this within our partner schools. However, as always, there is more work to be done. Please join us by supporting the Great Big Breakfast. Together we can make a difference – one breakfast at a time!”
The Great Big Breakfast is also being supported by chef Shivi Ramoutar and actors Jacqueline Boatswain and Sarah Hadland.