Too many young people in the UK are starting the day without breakfast.
Some live with food inequality or instability at home. Some struggle with anxiety around eating and body image.
Then they’re expected to show up at school and switch on. To engage, absorb and achieve. To make decisions they’re told will affect their whole lives. All while running on empty.
Our new research shows that skipping breakfast can harm their health and wellbeing, prevent them from achieving in the classroom and beyond, and make it harder to feel like they belong.
All children need to eat to focus at school, not just small children.”
Student, age 14, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)
So, we have launched our More Than Breakfast campaign, because we want to ensure all young people have everything they need to learn and thrive. To have the best start to their day – and the rest of their lives.
Especially when being older and more mature, pupils will have more jobs to do before school, so things like dropping siblings off can disrupt an eating schedule.”
Student, age 12
Young people and teachers have been central in shaping this campaign. Through over 1,000 messages from schools and recent workshops in secondary settings, it’s clear that breakfast is about much more than food: it’s a chance to feel settled, connect with friends and trusted adults, and start the day in a better place. Those insights are right at the heart of the campaign, and we’re keen to keep building on them.
This is a critical moment to act
Young people who have breakfast are healthier and happier. They build stronger relationships and get better academic results. So when they go out into the world, it’s with confidence and curiosity.
With current support for secondary schools uncertain beyond 2026, there’s a real risk the gap will widen. This campaign is about making sure it doesn’t, so that the benefits of school breakfast don’t stop at age 11 for children and young people.
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