Donate to the York Hungry Minds appeal
Help York children start the school day fed and ready to learn
Healthy, free school meals enable all children to have the same opportunities to learn and thrive, no matter the circumstances where they grow up. Quite simply, children cannot learn well when they are hungry. York Hungry Minds provides a free, healthy breakfast every school day to children in need at primary schools across York. Your donation pays for those meals and helps children to reach their full potential.
The national free school meals system misses many of the children who need help most. The Child Poverty Action Group calculates that two in five children living in households below the poverty line are not eligible for free school meals. Hungry Minds addresses that problem in York empowering schools to support all children who would benefit from free meal provision regardless of other eligibilities.
York is often seen as an affluent city, but this masks a real and often hidden challenge. Some of our neighbourhoods are among the 20% most deprived in the country, and cost of living pressures and rising bills are further squeezing family budgets. Too many York children are arriving at school hungry and unable to focus on learning.
York Hungry Minds wants that to change.
What a breakfast changes
Research on the first York pilots, carried out by the University of York and the University of Sheffield, found that pupils receiving a free meal:
- attended school more regularly
- arrived on time more often
- showed better focus, behaviour and energy levels in class
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.”
Where your donation goes
York Hungry Minds now operates in 13 primary schools across the city with many more in the pipeline.
Free breakfasts are provided at Burton Green, Fishergate, Haxby Road, Hob Moor, Tang Hall, New Earswick, St Lawrence’s, Poppleton Road, Woodthorpe, Osbaldwick, Stockton on Forest and Lakeside primary schools.
Free lunches are provided at Westfield Community Primary School for children in years 3 to 6.
Westfield has already served over 50,000 free lunches. Fishergate and Burton Green have together provided over 19,000 free breakfasts. The ten newest schools began serving breakfasts in the summer term of 2026 and we are excited to see the impact that this has.
How to donate
Every donation, whatever the size, pays for meals for York children.
To donate up to £500, use the Donate button on this page.
To give a larger amount, or to pay directly into the fund, please call Celia on 07519 485103 or email her to arrange your gift.
To donate by cheque, make it payable to Two Ridings Community Foundation and write “York Hungry Minds Appeal” on the back. Send cheques to Two Ridings Community Foundation, The Homestead, 40 Water End, York, YO30 6WP.
If you are a UK taxpayer, please complete our Gift Aid form. Gift Aid adds 25% to the value of your donation at no extra cost to you.
The impact so far
Download the latest York Hungry Minds impact report to find out more about the fantastic project and the impact to date.
