Breakfast club which has health at Hearts is on track say organisers

Published on Friday 10 October 2008 10:25

A BID to introduce a breakfast club into every city primary school is still on track, organisers said today.

The initiative – which has seen finance giant Aegon team up with the city council and Hearts – has so far seen two clubs established.

But as the Evening News-supported scheme celebrates its first birthday, the goal of having 94 schools taking part by 2010 is still being pursued.

Pupils from Dalry Primary School joined Hearts players Robbie Neilson, Andy Driver and Juho Makela, as well as city education leader Marilyne MacLaren and Aegon human resources director Paul Blair on the pitch at Tynecastle yesterday to mark the scheme's anniversary.

Two new breakfast clubs have been set up in the last year, at Sighthill Primary School and Pirniehall and St David's Primary, which share a campus in Pilton.

Mr Blair said: "We are delighted at making a solid start with the breakfast club in its first year.

"Children at Pirniehall and St David's Primary School and Sighthill Primary are already enjoying the benefits of a healthy breakfast to start the school day.

"We are looking forward to signing up more schools and sponsors in the coming weeks."

Plans are in the pipeline to get three more schools on board by January next year and a new sponsorship and development coordinator will be recruited in coming weeks to secure local business sponsors to develop breakfast club provision over the next two years.

A new resource for schools being launched next month, "breakfast club in a box", will offer guidance for school staff on how to go about setting up and maintaining a breakfast club.

Alan White, from the Hearts Education and Community Trust, said: "Already the Aegon Breakfast Club initiative has made a positive difference to primary school children in Edinburgh.

"As a football club we understand the importance of a comprehensive education and the need for healthy lifestyles in young people."

In April 2003, Edinburgh City Council and NHS Lothian committed to setting up breakfast clubs across the city. By 2007 there were 26 breakfast clubs operating in 28 schools and Hearts and Aegon got on board to extend the scheme to every school.

Councillor MacLaren said she was "delighted" by the success of the project so far.

She added: "A nutritious meal at the start of the day is a great boost for the brain and the body and gets kids off to a flying start each morning."

The scheme has certainly proved popular with the youngsters from Dalry Primary.

As well as a healthy breakfast the clubs provide the chance for staff to offer emotional support and help with homework, as well as the opportunity for youngsters to interact with children of different ages.

Angela Fameyah, 11, said: "You can play with toys and you can draw pictures."

Benita Fameyah, nine, said: "I go every day. It is good that the people who can't take breakfast at home can take it at school."

Seven-year-old Stefan Thomas added: "I go on Mondays and Fridays. It is good. I like the toast."