Schools benefit from £60k partnership between Karbon Homes and Greggs Foundation

Over 700 children across the North East are fuelling their school day with Greggs Foundation Breakfast Clubs, thanks to new Unlocking Social Value funding from Karbon Homes.

Karbon's £60,000 community investment over the next two years will feed pupils in a total of 11 primary schools from Seaham to Wylam, who previously arrived at lessons hungry. 

Paul Moralee, Community Investment Manager at Karbon, said: “We feel no child should go to school hungry and our targeted interventions supporting the Greggs Foundation Breakfast Clubs help children get a stronger foundation for life which they need to have a strong future.

“Feedback shows the benefits go far beyond providing breakfast, from improving classroom focus, social cohesion and attendance at school. It’s brilliant to see first-hand the results and positive impact on the families we work with, even just in the few weeks our new school funded sites have been running.”

Chester-le-Street's Bullion Lane Primary School is one of the new recipients of the breakfast club funding, already feeding up to 30 children daily. 

Sarawr, a parent at Bullion Lane, shares the difference in her daily routine in just a few weeks: “My son is autistic and gets very over stimulated on the way to school. The breakfast club eases him into the day and helps with the morning structure. He’s excited to come to school now and it’s had a real positive domino effect on the whole family.”

Karbon has been working with Greggs Foundation for several years as part of their wider approach to combating the cost-of-living crisis affecting many families across the North East region, already funding four breakfast clubs.

One of which is The Grove Primary School in Consett, which has been running a breakfast club for five years and has in excess of 40 children coming from all age groups, including SEND pupils.

Edward Baker, a parent, explains, “I have to get to work straight away and without this I may be at risk of not being able to do my job. I don’t really need to worry about breakfast mid-week, I know school’s going to have it sorted and it’s perfect – it's just everything in a nice little package. 

“My eldest struggles when he comes into school but I find when he comes in to have breakfast it helps him settle down and his behaviour is a little bit better – so that’s a big bonus for us!”

The £60k funding is, for the next two years, part of the social value commitment to Karbon from three of its material contracts suppliers, Jewson, CEF and Wolseley.

The social value fund is made up of cash contributions from some of Karbon’s supply chain, including cash pledges and financial donations as part of their contract commitment.

Chris McKenna, Regional Sales Manager at Wolseley, UK said: “Wolseley are delighted to be involved with contributing to the community. We see it as part of our responsibility as we employ lots of people in the local area and the young children coming through could be future employees of ours so it’s good to give back to them.

“It feels great to see the money going to good use, it’s fantastic to see all the young kids here all happy and getting a good breakfast.”

Karbon spends around £8million per year with its material contracts suppliers: Jewson, CEF and Wolseley, to repair and maintain their customers’ homes. A percentage of this money is allocated to social value and funds activities such as the Greggs Breakfast Clubs.