2024: Make sure no child or young person is too hungry to learn this International School Meals Day
This International School Meals Day, Together Scotland, the alliance of children’s charities promoting the UNCRC’s implementation, have taken the opportunity to shine a light on the work of Magic Breakfast.
Making sure that no child or young person is too hungry to learn, Magic Breakfast provides thousands of breakfasts across Scotland to children and young people living in disadvantaged areas. The national charity also focuses on being part of the solution through campaigning and advocacy work with politicians and decision-makers.
Writing on Together Scotland’s website, Magic Breakfast’s Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Finlay Allmond, addressed how Scotland is falling behind comparative countries in delivering school breakfasts, stressing that this included other nations in Europe as well as UK neighbours, highlighting initiatives in Wales and England which currently support thousands of school pupils to access free breakfasts.
Finlay Allmond writes; “Today, young Scots are going hungry due to empty promises. Later this year will mark three years since then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, committed the Scottish Government to offering breakfasts to every pupil in primary and ASN schools. Yet so far, not a single slice of toast funded by the Scottish Government has been buttered.”
Demonstrating their commitment to understanding the views of school staff, parents and pupils on the issue, last year the charity conducted its largest ever study bringing to life the morning routines of families across Scotland and England in the What’s for Breakfast report (click here to view).
With evidence showing that breakfast has demonstrable academic benefits at early primary level and for key exam years, this International School Meals Day Magic Breakfast calls on the Scottish Government to fulfil their promise to Young Scots. Allmond writes; “It is vital that children and young people are supported to access breakfast to ensure they have the chance to reach for their dreams.”
Click here to read the full blog on Together Scotland’s website.