Freedom Finance, one of the UK’s leading digital lending marketplaces and embedded finance providers, is delighted to announce pioneering UK charity Magic Breakfast as its chosen 2023 Charity of the Year.

Magic Breakfast aims to support children at risk of hunger by providing healthy school breakfasts to those in disadvantaged areas of the UK. It comes amid a growing crisis, with the Food Foundation releasing a report in September 2022 showing that 4 million children (almost a third of the UK’s child population) are now at risk of arriving at school hungry each morning, a number that has increased from 2.6 million in April of that year.

The charity works with schools to ensure that no child is too hungry to learn and thrive. Partner schools open a little early each morning to offer their students a free, nutritious Magic Breakfast and ensure they start their day the right way.

It targets areas with high levels of disadvantage, helping head teachers target the children most in need ensuring breakfast provision is stigma free and open to all. 

Freedom Finance’s support comes at a critical time given the soaring price of food which has squeezed household budgets across the country. Not only has this increased the risk of families struggling to provide nutritious breakfasts but it has also impacted the ability of Magic Breakfast to support schools.

The financial support from Freedom Finance – through a variety of fundraising activities such as in-office events and sponsored challenges – aims to provide critical help for the charity to continue helping more disadvantaged children. There will also be a number of volunteering opportunities for Freedom Finance employees to further promote and assist the work Magic Breakfast are doing.

Diane Peart, Head of Programme Delivery at Freedom Finance, said “We are thrilled to have chosen Magic Breakfast as our Charity of the Year, and look forward to contributing to the huge progress they’re making in ending child morning hunger as a barrier to education.

“The current inflation shock has impacted millions of lives in this country and with the rising cost of food now a major issue, it was important to make a difference in this area. A nutritious breakfast is vital to ensuring children can benefit from a good education and a healthy life so we look forward to playing our part in the lives of children who may be at risk of food insecurity or live in a disadvantaged household.

“It’s been great to see all my Freedom Finance colleagues get involved and we have a fantastic schedule of events planned for the rest of the year to support this important cause.”

David Hendry, Chief Marketing Officer at Freedom Finance, said “Freedom Finance has a strong reputation for supporting organisations that drive maximum impact and I’m delighted that this partnership will enable us to support Magic Breakfast’s invaluable efforts to tackle child hunger at a time when finances are tight for many households. It builds on our work supporting disadvantaged communities such as our collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice raising awareness and fighting against the scourge of illegal lending and loan sharks in our society.”

Alice Chamberlain, Director of Fundraising & Development (Interim), commented: “We are delighted to have the support of Freedom Finance. The growing child hunger issue in this country threatens the health and well-being of a whole generation. Hungry children cannot concentrate or access their education so if we cannot increase the provision of breakfasts, they will miss out on the opportunity to learn, thrive and reach their potential.

“We look forward to seeing Freedom Finance’s employee and challenge fundraising activities that will make a real difference in our ability to continue supporting disadvantaged children in the UK.”