Tag: breakfast clubs

Schools and community groups urged to apply for Tesco grants to boost children’s access to healthy food

Tesco is calling on organisations in Scotland running food projects for children and young people to apply for grants of up to £1,500

Schools and community groups across Scotland are being encouraged to apply for funding through Tesco, as the retailer looks to support more local projects helping children and young people access healthy, nutritious food.

The community grant scheme awards up to £1,500, with shortlisted projects going forward to a customer vote in participating Tesco stores. Shoppers receive a blue token and can vote by placing it in the in-store unit for the cause they want to support. Each funding round features three local projects, with grants awarded based on the number of tokens received.

This year, Tesco is particularly keen to hear from initiatives with a clear food focus, including breakfast clubs, holiday food provision, access to healthy snacks for youth groups, community pantries, cookery and nutrition sessions, and food growing projects that help children learn where food comes from.

The call for applications comes as the latest Government diet survey shows that fewer than 1 in 10 children and young people aged 11–18 meet the recommended 5-a-day, with 11–18-year-olds eating an average of around 2.9 portions of fruit and vegetables per day*.

Tesco believes every child should have the opportunity to enjoy healthy food and is committed to backing practical projects that make a difference locally.

Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy healthy food and build the foundations for a healthier future, we want to support the brilliant schools and community groups in Scotland helping children and young people access nutritious food.

“Whether that’s a breakfast club, a pantry, cookery sessions or a project that helps children grow and try new foods, we’d encourage local organisations to apply—and we’d love shoppers to get involved when the customer vote comes to their local store.”

Already in Scotland, a number of local causes have benefited from the Stronger Starts blue token initiative, helping to improve children’s access to healthier food and nutrition education,

One example is the Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre in Coatbridge who host the KNC Kids Club, an afterschool club and summer holiday playscheme which supports young people aged five to ten and runs a series of cooking classes two days a week.

Through the classes, the young people learn about eating healthier foods and have the opportunity to prepare their own meals, such as soups, pastas and pizzas.  The Stronger Start funding helped the group to purchase more kitchen equipment and ingredients, helping the kids continue their keen passion for cooking, learning new foods to try and discover a love for healthy eating.

Nicola Anderson, from KNC Kids Club, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant made a real difference for the KNC Kids Club.

“It’s helped us to buy ingredients and new utensils in our on-site kitchen for local children and young people to use, and the customer vote gave the whole initiative a real lift. We’d strongly encourage other groups to apply—the funding and local support have made a genuinely positive impact.”

Another group who have benefitted from the grant is Mearns Primary School in Newton Mearns, who received a £1,500 Stronger Starts grant to help support their school’s breakfast club, allowing them to provide pupils with a soft-start routine through a nutritious breakfast every school day.

For more information about Tesco Stronger Starts and how to apply, visit: 

www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/communities/strongerstarts.

Free breakfast clubs roll out in England

Thousands of children to attend free breakfast clubs today, as UK government delivers its manifesto commitment and promise to working families

School mornings just got easier for families across England as 750 schools open breakfast clubs today, offering 30 minutes of free childcare, a healthy start for kids and a little more breathing room before the school bell rings.

Parents will be supported with additional time at the start of the day to attend appointments, get to work on time and run errands. In total, this means parents will be able to save up to 95 additional hours and £450 per year if their child attends free breakfast clubs every day. 

This amount rises to a saving of up to £8,000 every year when combining the free breakfast clubs with further support through the expansion of government-funded childcare and new school uniform cap on branded items.

With the cost of everyday essentials stretching budgets, these clubs will be a lifeline for working families simply trying to get by. When you’re raising a family, every penny counts and that’s why the government is stepping in to ease the pressure and put money back in parents’ pockets.

No matter the postcode or the pay packet, every child deserves the same chance to thrive. That’s the principle behind this rollout — real support for families in every corner of the country, so no one is left behind.

These clubs sit alongside action to tackle the cost of living, with inflation falling for two months in a row, wages growing faster than prices and fuel duty frozen. The Labour government says that, together, they show the Plan for Change is delivering for working families.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As a parent, I know that the combined pressures of family life and work can often feel impossible to juggle. That is why our manifesto promised to make parents lives easier and put more money in their pockets with free breakfast clubs. Under a year since we came into office, this government is delivering that through our Plan for Change.

“The rollout of free breakfast clubs is a truly game-changing moment for families in this country. They mean parents will no longer be hamstrung by rigid school hours and have the breathing space they need to beat the morning rush, attend work meetings and doctors’ appointments, or run errands. And crucially, it means better life chances for children.

“By making these clubs free and universal, we’re doing something that previous governments have never done. We’re going further and faster to deliver the change working families deserve. That’s the change this government was elected to deliver.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Free breakfast clubs are a central part of our Plan for Change. At a time when there is so much pressure on families, they provide real help with the cost of living and ensure children start the day with a nutritious meal. 

“On top of the hectic school run, parents should not have to worry about how to balance work and getting their children fed and ready for school. These clubs will break down barriers and help children settle in, focus and get the most out of their learning.

“We are delivering on our promises and giving every child the best start in life while making sure families get the support they need, wherever they live.”

According to new government data, parents are also motivated to take up free breakfast clubs because of the improvements they can have on their wellbeing.

Many see them as is an opportunity to socialise with other children before school (30%) and spend more time doing the activities they enjoy (28%) – offering a supportive start to the day that leads to better behaviour, and better life chances.

The rollout delivers on the government’s manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils; while supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.

Victoria Taylor, mum of two children aged 5 and 7, said: “For me, free breakfast clubs provide vital support, meaning I can get into work a little easier and ensure my two kids are settled and ready to learn.

“I’m a primary school teacher, so early mornings are a must however I try to not let my busy schedule dictate the pace of mornings.

“Taking my children to breakfast clubs means I know they are fed, ready to start the day and emotionally regulated – the commitment to rollout nationally will make the world of difference for working families.”

Trade unions argue that the funding allocated to breakfast clubs just isn’t enough, while charities and campaigners say that scrapping the current two child benefit cap would make a far greater difference in tackling poverty for the poorest families.

Edinburgh business become Scotland’s first employee-owned childcare firm

OWNERSHIP of an Edinburgh childcare company has been handed over to its 150 dedicated staff in what is believed to be a sector first in Scotland.

Kidzcare has announced its transition to employee ownership with 100% of the company shares now placed into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) by owner Anne-Marie Dunn who co-founded the successful business in 2001.

The childcare specialists operate four nurseries, four breakfast clubs and six after-school clubs for children, offering options across Edinburgh, from Portobello to Bruntsfield and Fox Covert.

Ownership Associates, a specialist adviser to businesses considering establishing an EOT, provided support to the Kidzcare owner and employees throughout the process in what is believed to be the first business in the Scottish childcare sector to transition to employee ownership.

Anne-Marie Dunn said: “I’m delighted to be able to reward these dedicated and loyal employees by gifting them a share of this brilliant business. The staff at Kidzcare have supported me throughout this journey and I couldn’t reconcile myself to the idea of passing it on to anyone else.

“As I looked to withdraw from the business, I wanted to find an option that rewarded and empowered the staff into the future. As soon as I heard about employee ownership, I was instantly convinced that this was the vehicle to make it happen.

“By becoming employee owned, I am confident that Kidzcare’s values of safety, child development, fairness and kindness will continue, greatly benefiting the children we look after and the people who look after them.”

The business turns over £3 million a year and provides high quality childcare for more than 500 children a day around the city.

Anne-Marie added: “Our current HR Manager, Julie MacKenzie, who has been with us for more than eight years will take more of a managing director role as I gradually step back in the next few months.

“We have planned for a seamless transition so the business can smoothly enter its next chapter, and crucially, we are in control of how that happens best for all stakeholders.

“The transition into employee ownership has been very easy.  Business transactions like this can be daunting and complicated but I have been so lucky to have a team of experienced advisors in Lindsays and Ownership Associates. They have guided me every step of the way.  Nothing was a problem for them.”

Carole Leslie of Ownership Associates, who has worked on the transition of more than 80 businesses to the succession model, said: “It has been a great experience assisting Kidzcare to make the move to employee ownership. It was clear that this was the obvious option for the company and I’m certain the firm will fast see the benefits of this model of ownership.

“It has provided an exit plan for Anne-Marie, potentially life changing differences to her staff, and most importantly ensured that the quality of care for children remained at the heart of the business.

“This is a shining example of the business model benefiting everyone involved in the company. It also highlights the strong positives it can have on an industry like childcare.”

Douglas Roberts of Lindsays added: “Kidzcare has a brilliant reputation in Edinburgh and it was an honour to help the company with the legal aspects of its move to employee ownership.

“Parents trust the staff at Kidzcare to look after their children and Anne-Marie trusts her loyal employees to keep the values and high standards of Kidzcare. It was clear that employee ownership was ideal for Anne-Marie’s succession plans and I’m sure Kidzcare will hugely benefit from being employee owned.”

Ownership Associates works exclusively within the employee-owned sector, supporting companies on their move to employee ownership and working with established employee-owned businesses enabling them to maximise the ownership advantage.

For more information on Kidzcare, please visit: https://www.kidzcare.org/

Lidl offers children the chance to make breakfast time a better time at school


Lidl is giving primary school children across Scotland the chance to win £5,000 of vouchers to be spent on providing a better breakfast for their fellow pupils.

The supermarket is running the nationwide competition with its charity partner, the NSPCC, to give a boost to one school’s Breakfast Club. Continue reading Lidl offers children the chance to make breakfast time a better time at school

Holiday meals for Scottish children

More children and young people are set to benefit from nutritious meals and a place to play and socialise when schools are closed for the holidays this year.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has announced £340,000 for six charities that offer children breakfast, healthy snacks and a hot lunch, as well as a range of games and activities during the school holidays. Continue reading Holiday meals for Scottish children