At 3.20pm on a Friday, a long queue forms outside a school in Birmingham’s city centre. Children line up alongside homeless people, waiting to receive food for the weekend. Many rush to the school as soon as the bell rings to ensure they get their share.
“From Monday to Friday, some students only get one hot meal a day at school,” explains executive headteacher Raj Mann. “My fear has always been about the weekends when families might go without. By providing meals from our food market, we help ease that struggle.”
Raj Mann, now 46, intimately understands the challenges his students face. He and his brother were raised in poverty after their immigrant parents from India experienced homelessness for over a year before settling in a single-room flat in Aston.
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“It breaks my heart to see children hungry,” he shares. “Growing up, my parents often went without so we could eat. That experience shaped my values — gratitude, kindness — and fueled my ambition to become a headteacher committed to helping disadvantaged families.”
Education was Raj’s route out of poverty. Now, as executive headteacher at two city schools, he witnesses the challenges many of his students face daily. Over 65% are pupil premium students, meaning they come from low-income households.
Community support plays a crucial role. Mr Singh’s Pizzas donates over 100 pizzas weekly, which student volunteers carefully divide to stretch further. Fair Share Midlands regularly supplies large food donations, packed by staff and students into bags distributed every Friday.
“The food market is run by student leaders, so it’s normalised and stigma-free,” Raj explains. “It’s not a food bank — it’s a community effort. Homeless people also take food, which helps foster understanding among students.”
Raj sees poverty’s effects beyond hunger — behavioral challenges often mask deeper struggles at home. To support students, he’s established mentoring programs and family outreach efforts, including assisting with transport costs and providing access to laundry facilities.
The contents of the food bags vary weekly but typically include essentials like vegetables, pasta, cereal, yoghurt, milk, bread, and snacks. Raj shares recipes with families to make the most of what they receive. The pizzas remain a favorite highlight.
Feedback from families is overwhelmingly positive, reaffirming the school’s vital role in the community. For Raj, this mission is personal and ongoing.
“Our goal is to support not only the children’s education but their wellbeing. No child should go hungry or feel isolated,” he says.