What's happening in the world of breakfast

NEW! The Breakfast Bulletin has adapted to modern times! The current termly publication has been transformed into a monthly e-newsletter – enabling clubs to access up to the minute information in bite sized chunks. 

The bulletin will provide you with all the latest breakfast club and funding news helping you to keep your clubs current, ensure you are up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations and provide a monthly review of inspirational ideas. 

We will be automatically sending the e-newsletter to all current members and those who have previous expressed an interest in breakfast clubs.

New members can Join the Breakfast Club Plus network by signing up on the right hand side of this page.

You can get great ideas for your club, view the current breakfast club bulletin, or view the breakfast bulletin archive on our breakfast bulletin page.

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National Breakfast Week (25 to 31 August) 

Kellogg’s National Breakfast Week runs from 25 to 31 August.  Dame Kelly Holmes is championing Kellogg’s Wake Up To Breakfast campaign and she will challenge every family in the UK to enjoy at least one family breakfast together during National Breakfast Week.
 
For free recipe suggestions and breakfast puzzles, visit www.kelloggs.co.uk/wakeup or call 0800 626 066.

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Scottish cooking bus to boost healthy eating

Scotland's first Cooking Bus has been launched by the Scottish Government.

On-board lessons will teach children how to cook simple healthy meals as well as essential food handling and preparation skills; and vital food issues such as nutrition, hygiene and recycling.

The programme will provide schools and community groups with cooking equipment and teaching resources, and will train adults in how to use them.

During school holidays, classes will be held for community group leaders, with a particular focus on deprived areas to help tackle health inequalities.

So far, 200 schools have requested a visit from the Cooking Bus and applications are invited from other Scottish schools. Requests can be submitted online at www.focusonfood.org or by phone on 01422 383 191.

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Public Health Minister presents 'sustainability' Breakfast Club Plus award

Bristol South MP and Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, joined staff and pupils at Ashton Gate Out of School Breakfast Club to present them with the Breakfast Club Plus Award for ‘sustainability’. Ashton Gate Breakfast Club has created a sustainable funding system which allows them to provide a wide variety of activities, and which will sustain the club long-term. The breakfast club has financial backing from Bristol Youth and Community Action, and the Disabled Children’s Service has provided funding for a play worker, dedicated to working with disabled children.

Celebrating the club’s achievement, the Public Health Minister said that ‘Ashton Gate and the success it’s achieved should hopefully encourage and inspire others in Bristol to set up breakfast clubs. Breakfast Clubs are about so much more than just eating breakfast, they provide informal learning environments and can play a really positive role in improving young people’s lives.’

Tony Apicella, Business Development Director from ContinYou says, 'To provide excellent provision over a sustained period is often the true success of any breakfast club. This doesn’t happen by chance but through good planning, sound budgeting and realistic target setting for both those who attend and those who deliver. ContinYou is delighted to both recognize and reward such best practice.'

Ashton Gate Breakfast Club is investing the £1,500 prize money in an allotment, so that the children can grow their own fresh produce, which will then be served at the breakfast club.

Other MPs to visit winning clubs included Hilary Benn, at the Queens Mount Breakfast Club in Leeds, Peter Lillie at The First Stop Club in Hitchin and Patrick Mercer at Bowbridge Primary School in Newark.

To find out more about all of our award winners, please visit the Breakfast Club Plus Awards page

National Breakfast Club register launched

We are delighted to announce that from May 2008 we are making access to all the information and resources on the website FREE to everyone, as we introduce our new, easier to use website.

The new website contains updated sections on starting up, motivations for breakfast clubs and a great fundraising search tool. Over the course of the year we will also be working on developing new materials, case studies and resources relevant to secondary schools, community run breakfast clubs and clearer guidance on variations to policy and practice in England, Wales and Scotland. 

The Breakfast Bulletin has been transformed into a monthly e-newsletter – enabling clubs to access up to the minute information in bite sized chunks. 

Longer term we are working to create an interactive and fully searchable database of clubs running across the country. It will be possible to search the database by postcode, region and local authority. Clubs currently operating in isolation will be able to share resources and knowledge. It will also be a brilliant opportunity for clubs to promote themselves to potential funders.

To make sure you don’t miss out take the opportunity to sign up your interest on the right hand side of this page and to find out more, visit our register now page.

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Environmental Secretary celebrates Breakfast Club Plus Award winners

Hilary Benn, the Environmental Secretary, joined staff and pupils at the Quarry Mount Breakfast Club to celebrate their Breakfast Club Plus Award. Quarry Mount Breakfast Club in Woodhouse, Leeds is the winner of the ‘promoting social and emotional well-being’ award.

The North West Leeds Pupil Development Centre provides breakfast for 25 young people each morning. The club has developed a close relationship with the pupil referral service so that they can support children re-integrating back into the mainstream, after a long period away from school. The club works with social services and family support advisers to give particular attention to children most in need. They have helped to improve poor attendance and punctuality rates.

Other MPs to visit winning clubs included Peter Lillie at The First Stop Club in Hitchin and Patrick Mercer at Bowbridge Primary School in Newark. Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Public Health will be visiting Ashton Gate Breakfast Club in Bristol later in May to present to them the Breakfast Club Plus sustainability award.

Overall, the awards have raised the profile of the outstanding work and impact that breakfast clubs have in supporting schools and communities throughout the UK.

To find out more about all of our award winners, please visit the Breakfast Club Plus Awards page.

View the Yorkshire Evening Post’s coverage of Hilary Benn's visit.

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Breakfast ‘keeps young people lean’

A five-year study in the US has found that those who skip breakfast on average weigh 5lb more than those who eat first thing. The study in the US journal 'Pediatrics' found that those who ate breakfast consumed more calories over the day, but found that they were also likely to be much more active.

You can read the full report here: Pediatrics (The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics)

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