Donate to the York Hungry Minds appeal
Support free school meals in York so all children can learn and thrive
Healthy, free school meals enable all children to have the same opportunities to learn and thrive, no matter the circumstances where they grow up. Evidence links free school meals to improved educational attainment and a host of social, financial and health benefits into adulthood.
The current eligibility criteria for free school meals excludes many children whose families are living in poverty. Recent calculations by the Child Poverty Action Group indicate that two in five, or 40%, of children living in households below the poverty line remain ineligible for free school meals
While York is often perceived to be an affluent city, some of its neighbourhoods fall within the 20% most deprived in the UK.
With serious cost of living pressures still affecting many families, far too many children are arriving at school hungry.
That is why partners across the city are supporting an appeal to raise the funds to provide universal free school meals for all children in York’s primary schools.
“Universal school meal provision could decrease pressure on struggling families as well as having numerous positive impacts on children’s health and on narrowing the educational attainment gap. It could lead to savings in healthcare and productivity costs and help create a more equal and cohesive society.” (Nesta, June 2022)
York Hungry Minds is growing – and transforming lives across the city.
Partners from across York have come together to deliver a major expansion of the York Hungry Minds initiative, providing over 170,000 free breakfasts to primary school children over the next three years.
Thanks to generous donations from businesses and individuals, new free school breakfast pilots have launched for invited children at: Haxby Road, Hob Moor, Tang Hall, New Earswick, St Lawrence’s, Poppleton Road, Woodthorpe, Osbaldwick, Stockton on Forest and Lakeside Primary Schools.
These schools join:
- Westfield Community Primary School, which has already delivered over 50,000 free lunches
- Fishergate and Burton Green Primary Schools, which together have provided over 19,000 free breakfasts
All are already seeing the positive impact that a nutritious meal can have on children’s wellbeing, focus and readiness to learn.
Matt Brown, Headteacher at Osbaldwick Primary Academy, said: “Providing a nutritious meal at no cost will ensure every child is ready to learn and thrive, whilst offering vital support to our families during these challenging times.”
Early research from the first York pilots found that pupils receiving a free meal:
- attended school more regularly
- arrived on time more often
- showed improved behaviour, focus and energy levels in class
Your support through this appeal is helping children across the city start the school day fed, focused and ready to learn.
How to donate:
The York Hungry Minds appeal has been set up to give people an opportunity to donate whatever they can afford to enable all primary school children in the city to access a free school meal.
We accept any donations to the fund.
All money donated to the fund will be distributed.
To donate up to £500, click on the pink ‘Donate’ button on this page.
To donate larger sums, you may want to send a cheque or pay directly into the fund without administrative fees. Please call Celia on 07519 485103 or email her directly on cmckeon@tworidingscf.org.uk to arrange your giving.
If you wish to donate via cheque to York Hungry Minds Appeal please make cheques payable to Two Ridings Community Foundation and write on the back ‘York Hungry Minds Appeal.’
If you are a UK tax payer donating by cheque, please fill out our Gift Aid form. This means that we increase the value of your donation by 25%, at no extra cost to you.
Send cheques to:
Two Ridings Community Foundation
Pavilion 2000
Amy Johnson Way
York
YO30 4XT
