The funding is enough for Magic Breakfast to provide 1.3 million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger. The money will also be used to support the 1,000 partnered schools in disadvantaged areas of the UK.
The Food Foundation estimates that 2.5 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity in the six months leading up to January 2021.
Emily Wilkie, head of fundraising at Magic Breakfast said: “We are very grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their continued support over the past seven years, which is especially important this year at a time when child hunger is at critical level.
“It’s heart-breaking to think of children arriving at school every day hungry, children who may not have had anything to eat since their school lunch the day before.
“This new funding is enough to fund a staggering 1.3million breakfasts for children at risk of hunger and allow us to continue to support their schools, helping to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for those that need it most. Thank you players of People’s Postcode Lottery."
At the start of 2021 Magic Breakfast doubled the number of schools it partners with and is now offering nutritious breakfasts for up to 170,000 children each school morning. Children at the charity’s partner schools enjoy low sugar cereal, porridge, bagels, baked beans and unsweetened fruit juice.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, added: “It has been so important for players of People’s Postcode Lottery to provide their support to children via Magic Breakfast at a time when child hunger is at the highest we’ve seen. It has been critical that this funding has reached the most disadvantaged and allowed the charity to provide their vital service.”