Winn Group is delighted to confirm its partnership with Greggs and St Lawrence’s Primary School to deliver a free breakfast club in Byker.

As part of our CSR strategy, we will support children in the Byker area by funding this programme, which allows the school to receive bread, milk, cereals, and yoghurts and offer a free school breakfast option throughout the school week.

Currently welcoming, on average, 60 children into school early to make sure they get breakfast, St Lawrence’s Primary has welcomed the announcement and reinforces both their and our commitment to supporting local families.

Charlotte Murray, Head of School at St Lawrence's Primary School, said: “St Lawrence's Primary runs a free Breakfast Club for all of our children from Reception to Year Six.

“The benefits that come from Breakfast Club cannot be overstated. First and foremost, it gives all of the children who attend (around 60 daily) a free and nutritious breakfast. This in turn relieves some of the pressure on our families who may struggle to provide breakfast for their children, especially as the cost of living crisis continues to affect the majority of our families.

“However, breakfast isn't the only benefit of Breakfast Club. It gives children the opportunity to socialise with their peers, play games and complete homework in a safe space each morning.

“It also gives our teachers and support staff the opportunity to work with and support children who may be feeling anxious or worried.

“This additional time to work with pupils is invaluable. It helps staff to talk to children and get them settled and ready to learn. Breakfast Club has also helped to improve the attendance of those who attend regularly.

“As a school, we are incredibly grateful for the support of Winn Group. Our Breakfast Club provides so much more than a breakfast and our school would not be as successful without it.”

Lynne Hindmarch, Greggs Breakfast Club Manager at the Greggs Foundation, said: “We are delighted to partner with Winn Group to enable children at St Lawrence's access to a free breakfast each school day.

“Greggs Foundation currently support over 740 schools nationally reaching around 48,000 children each school day.

“We could not do this without the kind and generous support of our business partners who fund the food items at school with Greggs giving any amount of free bread from their local store, a true collaboration of like-minded businesses.”

CSR Lead Ross Jackson said: “Our aim is to support locally-based initiatives wherever possible, as part of our wider CSR strategy.

“When the possibility of buying into the Greggs programme was presented, we were keen to help those at St Lawrence's Primary School who we’ve worked with before.

“Speaking to the Head of School, it was interesting to discover just how important a decent breakfast is to a child’s focus, concentration and, obviously, wellbeing.

“Unfortunately, we are based in an area where a meal to start the day isn’t a guarantee for children for a variety of reasons.

“It’s great to help in this way and give back to the community we are based in.”