Dozens of new free breakfast clubs are set to open across Birmingham, aiming to address concerns that many children are going hungry and struggling to focus in class. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled an ambitious plan to extend government-funded breakfast clubs to more primary schools in the city’s poorest communities, describing the fight against child poverty as a “personal mission.”
The expanded scheme will allow an additional 127 schools in Birmingham to apply for the free breakfast program. This follows a pilot phase involving 27 schools, which faced criticism over insufficient funding, particularly when supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. Some schools reported having to cut costs by diluting juice and avoiding fresh fruit, while others pointed to existing breakfast provisions run with the help of local businesses and volunteers.
Despite these challenges, the Government emphasizes the importance of ensuring every child starts their day well-nourished, a principle central to its strategy. Funding has been increased slightly to £1 per child each day, and the scheme aims to launch 500 new clubs by April 2026 via an £80 million investment.
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Rising child poverty rates in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands are intertwined with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, where stagnant wages and soaring food prices have left many families struggling. Starmer told BirminghamLive, “Encouraging as many eligible schools to apply is crucial because for children in Birmingham, this will be a game changer.”
Beyond breakfast clubs, the Government has introduced a suite of support measures, including capping school uniform costs, providing free school meals, offering free childcare for children aged nine months to four years, raising the minimum wage, and controlling utility costs.
The free breakfast clubs target schools in areas with high numbers of children eligible for free school meals. Currently, around 750 schools receive funding to provide a daily half-hour breakfast club with free food, helping not only children’s academic and social development but also easing childcare demands for parents while supporting families financially. By offering a free meal, families can potentially save up to £450 annually and gain nearly 95 extra hours for work or other activities.
Despite positive momentum on the breakfast clubs, Starmer refrained from committing to lifting the two-child benefit cap, a policy that restricts welfare and benefits to only the first two children per household. With 24.2% of Birmingham families on benefits having three or more children and thus affected by the cap, there is pressure for change. The Chancellor is expected to address this in the upcoming budget, contingent on available funds. Public and political calls to scrap the cap have intensified, with opposition Labour MPs calling it inhumane and pledging its removal if they return to power.
The Government also intends to publish a comprehensive child poverty strategy by autumn—a commitment that has faced repeated delays.
Overall, the expansion of free breakfast clubs represents a vital investment in Birmingham’s future, providing a much-needed nutrition boost to vulnerable children and helping families manage mounting financial pressures amid a difficult economic environment.