30 August 2021
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Child hunger is at a critical level. Before the pandemic, 1.7 million children in the UK were living with food insecurity, at risk of going hungry each morning. Now, an estimated 2.3 million UK children are living in food insecure homes. These children regularly compromise on the quantity of food they eat, skip meals, or go hungry.
Magic Breakfast works to support schoolchildren at risk of hunger. The charity ensures that children who arrive at school each morning with empty stomachs have access to a free healthy breakfast, so that when the bell rings they’re nourished and ready to learn. This year the charity marks its 20th anniversary and is more determined than ever in its mission that no child is too hungry to learn.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported Magic Breakfast for over seven years, raising nearly £3 million for the charity – the equivalent of almost nine million breakfasts – to help combat child hunger. This support has never been more crucial.
Since the pandemic Magic Breakfast has been a lifeline for vulnerable families. In response to growing demand, in 2021 the charity doubled the number of schools and tripled the number of children it supports. The charity now supports around 170,000 children in over 1,000 schools in disadvantaged areas of England and Scotland.
A hungry child isn’t equipped to make the most of their morning lessons, resulting in them missing hours of learning and development. Since the pandemic the attainment gap has widened, and disadvantaged children are further behind their wealthier peers. Healthy breakfasts can change this, providing children with the energy they need to succeed at school.
Thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Magic Breakfast is helping tackle the problem of children going hungry at home.
For the first time, the charity has expanded its breakfast provision to children during school closures and school holidays, so children have food to wake up to each morning at home. This summer alone, the charity has delivered over one million breakfasts.
This year, People’s Postcode Lottery is supporting Magic Breakfast to campaign for a long-term solution to child morning hunger. Funding from players helped the charity launch its new Youth Campaigners; a group of 10 young people who will use their passion, creativity and voices to campaign to end child morning hunger for good.
Players’ continued support helps children at risk of hunger, now and in the future.