Pockets of deprivation mean that, even within the prosperous UK, children are living with poverty.

Over 20% of all children in the UK do not get the chance to eat breakfast - affecting their ability to concentrate in school, and leading to disruptive behaviour.

Feed The Children has set up Club AM breakfast clubs to help children in areas designated by the government as areas of deprivation. At our clubs, children receive a nutritious breakfast that sets them up for the day.

All children at the schools may attend; for those children entitled to a free school lunch, there is no charge, while other children pay a nominal charge.

28% of UK children do not regularly sit down for a meal with their families. At Club AM, the children sit at tables and eat socially with their friends. They can listen to music, read books from the club library, or do their homework.

A breakfast menu of cereal, toast, fresh fruit, juice and milk helps the children's behaviour and academic performance.

Sarah Harvey, learning mentor at Florence Brown Primary School in Bristol, describes how Club AM has affected her school:

"Before starting a breakfast club in November 2003 we were getting an average of 17 serious incidence of violence between 9am and 9.30 per term. These would leave the children feeling angry and distressed for the whole morning, and have a negative knock-on effect on their work.

So far this term, we have only had one serious incident, showing the dramatic effect the breakfast club has had on the children. It not only gives them the nutrition they need to think, but also allows social skills to develop."

Through having breakfast monitors to help, and certificates at the end of each week for excellent helpers, it has helped the children show that they can be responsible and that they are able to empathise with their peers, which is, for our school, one of the most important lessons to learn."

Sponsored by...

The Coutts Charitable Trust