Thousands of free breakfasts funded for York schoolchildren after donation
Money will fund breakfasts at two primary schools for the next three years
Thousands of free breakfasts are being funded for schoolchildren in York after a fifty-five thousand pound donation to the York Hungry Minds campaign.
The money has come from members of Stockpaert, a Dutch social network, as part of its charitable Trekpaert Foundation's annual international donation programme, which coincided with a recent visit to York.
The funding will provide pupils at Yearsley Grove and Fishergate primary schools with free breakfasts over the next three years, City of York Council said.
The council said more than 21,000 free breakfasts will be made available as a result of the donation.
York Hungry Minds is part of the council's wider Council Plan, which aims to support health and wellbeing from an early age.
The council said the campaign was set up in response to the cost of living crisis, after national evidence suggested that providing children with nourishing food can improve school attendance, concentration and learning, as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
Thirteen primary schools across the city currently offer free school meals, the council said, with twelve offering free breakfasts and free lunches available for children in years three to six at Westfield Community Primary School.
The council said the different meals have been made possible through funding from City of York Council for the Westfield lunches, and donations to the York Community Fund's York Hungry Minds Appeal for the breakfasts.
Reaction
Councillor Bob Webb, the council's Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People, and Chair of the York Hungry Minds Steering Group, said: "This is fantastic news and the incredibly generous donation will provide thousands more free breakfasts to our primary school children over the next three years.
"Local and national evidence shows the positive impact free school breakfasts and lunches have on pupils' attendance, learning and behaviour. Through our work and the generous donations of people and organisations across the city we're helping ensure that York's primary school children have a great, healthy start to their school lives.
"I'd like to extend my huge thanks to Stockpaert for their support. The York Hungry Minds campaign is going from strength to strength and really is helping to change children's lives," Cllr Webb said.
John Reinerie, Chairman of the Lustrum Committee at Stockpaert, said: "Last year we arranged our 11th trip outside our country, this time to York, meeting Mayor David Skaith for the first time. We were able to discuss ideas for which good cause, as part of our Rotterdam student club's 55th anniversary, we could donate to.
"It was therefore a pleasure to arrange an evening with Mayor Skaith and Council Leader Cllr Claire Douglas to confirm our fifty-five thousand pound donation from our Trekpaert Charity Foundation to York Hungry Minds.
"We enjoyed a fantastic evening with speeches from David and Claire, and having heard much more about York Hungry Minds, our members were extremely proud of the choice Trekpaert made and could see the benefits of their donation," Reinerie said.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "No child should be sitting in a classroom distracted by an empty stomach.
"When children are well-nourished, they can focus on their learning and reach their full potential.
"I want to thank Stockpaert for taking the time to meet with me and for this generous donation, which will provide more than 21,000 free breakfasts," Mayor Skaith said.