A scheme to ensure schoolchildren start the day with a healthy breakfast is being backed by businesses.
The Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has signed up to support another year of the Huddersfield Town Foundation’s Early Kick-Off Scheme at Hillside Primary school in Newsome.
After a successful first year supporting the scheme, Hillside Primary School has had an average daily attendance of 30 children – more than double that of their previous breakfast club.
The breakfast club now attracts families who are not entitled to free school meals – but still struggle to make ends meet – enabling more parents to get back into employment.
Jill Mellor, learning mentor at Hillside Primary, said: “The Early Kick-Off Club has proved to be a resounding success and we predict that it will continue to thrive in the future, benefiting not just the children in our school, but the wider community as well.
“We owe a huge debt of thanks to the chamber for sponsoring Hillside Primary in this initiative and are extremely proud and grateful to hear that this will continue.”
The chamber was encouraged to hear that the scheme also helped volunteers to secure employment and education – one has gone on to study a teaching assistant degree and another has been offered paid employment.
Chamber director Andrew Choi said: “We are delighted to support such a great initiative for a second year.
“Hearing the difference the scheme has made to the children, parents and wider community is fantastic and we will are looking forward to visiting the school again to see the progress for ourselves.”
Mandy Taylor, of the Town Foundation, said: “The generosity of our local companies and organisations never ceases to amaze me, especially so when the donation is not only repeated for a second year running, but increased substantially.”
