A new ‘Grab and Go’ breakfast scheme to prevent children arriving at school hungry, which was launched earlier this month by local charity Fair Frome, has been hailed a ‘huge success.’
The project, launched as a trial until the summer holidays, is enabling pupils from Frome College and Selwood Academy to grab a breakfast bag outside Frome Cricket Club every Monday morning on the way to school.
Fair Frome staff members Lenka Grimes and Rebecca Harrison identified a need for a breakfast provision from conversations with families and children already being supported through other projects, as well as through conversations with professionals in other organisations and schools that Fair Frome works alongside. In particular, they found a need in the older age group.
“The bags have a protein bar, banana, apple, pastry and a juice and we also offer vegan and gluten-free. Allergies and dietary requirements are asked for,” explained Lenka.
The charity said the scheme is aiming to help families affected by the cost-of-living crisis and families with time constraints due to work and younger siblings.
Rebecca said, “The other big issue is that those children on free school meals are unable to access their allowance until lunchtime and they are not allowed to use it at breaktime, meaning they are hungry all morning and this affects concentration and learning.”
The breakfast bags are available for children to collect from 7.45am-8.30am until the summer holidays.
“We are starting on Monday mornings, as this is always a more difficult day for children,” added Lenka. “On the first morning, 50 children accessed the new service and we had some wonderful feedback. This is a trial, but we can already see the positive impact and hope we can secure funding and volunteers to expand the project to five days per week in the future.”
If anyone is interested or needs further details, please contact Fair Frome at info@fairfrome.org or 01373 488578.
Fair Frome also runs the town’s food bank, furniture bank, baby basics bank, holiday lunches three days a week in school holidays, Food at 5 hot meals, financial assistance project, monthly Sunday lunches and the community pantry.
