The charity now works with more than 1,000 primary, secondary and special schools in disadvantaged areas across England and Scotland.
The new funding is enough for 1.3 million healthy breakfasts which will be provided to children “at risk of hunger”.
Schools interested in working with Magic Breakfast are encouraged to submit an expression of interest via the charity’s website.
The funding comes as child hunger has reached critical levels. The Food Foundation estimates that 2.5 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity in the six months up to January 2021.
Furthermore, it is estimated that as many as 900,000 additional children were registered for free school meals in September last year as the pandemic hit family finances hard. It means 29 per cent of children are now claiming FSM – 2.2 million nationwide.
At the start of 2021, Magic Breakfast doubled the number of schools it partners with and is now offering nutritious breakfasts to up to 170,000 children each school morning.
Children at the charity’s partner schools enjoy low-sugar cereal, porridge, bagels, baked beans and unsweetened fruit juice, traditionally at a breakfast club, in a classroom or playground.
During the recent lockdowns, Magic Breakfast adapted its delivery model to include home deliveries and take-home packs.
Emily Wilkie, head of fundraising at Magic Breakfast, said: “It’s heart-breaking to think of children arriving at school every day hungry, children who may not have had anything to eat since their school lunch the day before.
“This new funding is enough to fund 1.3 million breakfasts for children at risk of hunger and allow us to continue to support their schools, helping to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for those that need it most.”
- For more details and to find out if your school is eligible for Magic Breakfast, visit www.magicbreakfast.com/apply-for-magic-breakfast-p...