Local MP Alan Mak has hosted a Parliamentary Reception to celebrate the impact and work of school breakfast clubs and the Magic Breakfast charity. He secured Education Secretary Gillian Keegan as the keynote speaker.
The Havant Constituency MP has worked closely with the Magic Breakfast charity since he was elected to Parliament, having previously been the charity’s President and Trustee.
The Education Secretary and Alan both gave remarks reflecting on the importance of breakfast in a child’s day, and the evidence-based approach to changing public policy on this issue which the charity has adopted.
Magic Breakfast’s research has shown that if a child has a healthy nutritional breakfast every day before school, they are less likely to exhibit poor behaviour and performance throughout the day, and are more likely to achieve better outcomes throughout their time at school.
Local MP Alan Mak said: “I’ve led the campaign against child hunger for over a decade, and we know breakfast clubs boost children’s attainment, attendance and behaviour and help families access better paid work. That’s why they are so important and should be expanded.”
He added: “Since I launched Magic Breakfast’s campaign for Government funding over a decade ago, provision has greatly expanded, due to the work of this charity and other providers. By working together, we have already made huge progress.”
Magic Breakfast CEO Lindsey MacDonald said: “Thank you Alan for hosting this fantastic event. We are walking away this morning with a lot of new friends and allies in Parliament who can help us advance our mission to make sure no child has to go without a healthy, hearty breakfast before their school day.”
Locally Alan secured the funding to launch a school breakfast club at Havant Academy which still operates. As well as Havant Academy, other schools helped by Magic Breakfast include Park Community School in Leigh Park and others around the Portsmouth area.
Gillian Keegan MP said: “It’s hard to make a difference often in Politics but Alan has been consistently supportive of Magic Breakfast, to the point where we now have the Department for Education working with this fantastic charity.”
She added: “Magic Breakfast have delivered free breakfasts for 22 years, helping over 200,000 young people to have a healthy breakfast every single day. Each one is a child who will do a little better in school thanks to their efforts. I want to thank everyone there for all the amazing work they do.”
