Hosting firm UKFast is helping to ease hardship in local in-need wards with the sponsorship of a primary school breakfast club.
UKFast’s £4,000-a-year commitment sees Holy Name RC Primary School offer a free breakfast for children who would otherwise go hungry.
The news comes as the Child Poverty Action Group and the National Education Union (NEU), announce a survey of 900 teachers, 60% of whom said child poverty in schools had worsened since 2015, and one in three said it had got significantly worse. Estimates suggest that 4.1 million children are living in poverty in the UK.
Holy Name executive head teacher Catherine Gordon said: “We noticed that children were coming into school hungry, and often with limited or no lunch. We launched a free breakfast club, run by the team here themselves, but following funding cuts the club just wasn’t sustainable, so we began to charge 20p a day. The numbers fell from 70 or 80 children, to less than 20 when that £1 a week charge was introduced.
“Parents are being harder hit than ever and despite their best efforts, children are feeling the impact. We’ve been working with UKFast on a few projects and when they heard about our children not having a strong start to the day, they stepped in to sponsor the breakfast club.
“The impact is going to be huge – these children now have the fuel they need to learn and enjoy their day.”
Holy Name RC Primary School teaches 200 children from ages 3 – 11 years in Moss Side, Manchester.
UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones said: “It’s unthinkable that there are children who are going without the most important meal of the day. These children are expected to learn new skills and participate in sports with empty stomachs.
“With ever-growing squeezes on government funding and on parents’ pockets, it’s essential that those who can help do actually help. When we got to know Holy Name and the incredible children there, it was a simple decision to ensure that the early morning meals continue.”
The announcement comes following UKFast’s recent appointment of Director of CSR Russell Feingold to lead the firm’s commitment to the community. The tech firm works with 60,000 children across more than 50 schools and organisations across Greater Manchester to boost technical education through code clubs, careers masterclasses and digital engagement sessions.
Holy Name RC Primary School was rated ‘Outstanding’ in its latest section 48 inspection.
