Celebrating 25 Years of the Breakfast Club Programme

On October 10th, The Greggs Foundation hosted a special celebration evening at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle as we commemorated 25 years of our Breakfast Club programme. The event brought together over 230 guests, including funding partners, school leaders, dedicated supporters, and Greggs colleagues who have played a vital role in the long-term success of this transformative programme.   

2024 is not only the 25^th anniversary of our Breakfast Clubs.  It also marks a significant milestone as the  programme opens its 1000th club, providing daily breakfasts to an astonishing 75,000 children in schools across the UK.  

The 25^th anniversary gathering was an opportunity to give a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has contributed to the growth and success of our Breakfast Clubs over the past quarter-century. 

Guests were welcomed to enjoy a sit-down dinner provided by the wonderful Magic Hat – a Newcastle cafe specialising in creating vibrant dishes using surplus food to help combat food waste.  During the meal, guests were invited to view an exhibition showcasing the work of the Greggs Foundation, illustrating how we have evolved and expanded over the years to reach both schools and community organisations in the past 25 years.   

The evening also featured three presentations, starting with an introduction by Mick Thompson, Deputy Chair of the Greggs Foundation Board of Trustees. Following Mick, Richard Hutton, Finance Director of Greggs and Trustee of the Greggs Foundation, detailed the extensive history of the programme with an additional short film featuring school leaders highlighting the profound impact of the Breakfast Club programme.   

Tracy Lynch, the Greggs Foundation Manager, also took to the stage to discuss the crucial role played by over 160 external partners in helping to expand the programme since the first partner joined in 2010. Her presentation emphasised the importance of both partnership and a shared vision in ensuring that no child starts their school day hungry. 

As the night progressed, Tracy announced an exciting new direction for the Breakfast Club programme in direct response to feedback from teaching staff across our network. Moving forward, the schools programme will broaden its scope to include after-school clubs and holiday clubs, furthering its mission to feed a brighter future for thousands more children. This reflects the commitment of the Foundation to always look at ways to do more, as we adapt and grow in response to the evolving needs of schools and communities. 

As the Greggs Foundation looks ahead, it remains dedicated to fostering partnerships and expanding its reach, ensuring that our network of 1000 schools and 75,000 children continues to thrive and setting the stage for a brighter future for children across the UK.