Free winter breakfasts scheme returning to North Ayrshire secondary schools

The Winter Warmer Breakfast venture is returning to North Ayrshire’s secondary schools this week.

Free breakfast will be offered to all North Ayrshire secondary pupils every morning from Monday, November 4.

The move was revealed at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting as part of a cost of living report.

All secondary schools will offer free breakfast to pupils every morning, which includes either a hot roll or two of the following: fruit pot, croissant, cheese scone, pancake, or toast.

It is hoped that the warm breakfasts will relieve some of the pressure on families when the cost of living is highest.

During 2023-24, the council’s Money Matters Team supported residents in accessing £20,081,590 in financial gains from 5,739 referrals.

This includes benefits some did not realise they were entitled to.

They are funding two additional School Welfare Rights Officers providing financial advice and assistance to parents and carers.

This is based on strong evidence, with our current School Welfare Rights Officer obtaining £560,509 for secondary school parents during 2023-24. This is an average of £5,387 per referral.

Energy Advice and Support is a key area of focus given the ongoing cost of utilities, the rise of the price cap in October 2024, and recent decision-making in relation to the Winter Fuel Payment.

The council’s Energy Smart scheme has continued to evolve and provides three key elements to support residents.

Free and impartial energy efficiency advice is available through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) helpline.

A partnership with the Energy Agency (a charitable organisation appointed by the Scottish Government to manage the HES programme) was launched in September 2022, and 8,750 North Ayrshire households have received energy advice since that date to help lower their bills.

The Energy Smart Emergency Support scheme was launched in October 2022 to provide financial assistance over the winter periods in the form of a crisis payment.

The allocation of support payments is as follows: 2022-23 – £441,000 to 1,489 households; 2023-24 – £192,000 to 1,200 households.

In 2024-25, there is £342,000 available.

There are also 16 food larders across the area, as well as a Millport community shop.

Cabinet Member for Education and Young People Shaun Macaulay said: “As a Council, we are fully committed to ensuring children and young people have the best start in life, building a fair and equal society for all.

“The warm breakfasts are another small step we can take to help families most in need across the region.

“As the Cost-of-Living crisis continues to put pressure on families, child poverty is more prominent than ever, so we recognise that we need to do all that we can to alleviate the stress for families.

“A big thanks to our catering staff who have helped provide these warm breakfasts when the young people need it the most.”

He added: “This report is a real team effort in every department in the council and our partners in KA Leisure played a part.

“You get quite frustrated that there is so much need but it is heartening to see we are doing stuff in North Ayrshire that helps people.

“One of the key things is to maximise people’s incomes and benefits which people were not claiming as they did not know they were entitled to and that’s why we put in the Money Matters team and the welfare rights officers in schools.

“We now have a 90% uptake in young people using the free buses scheme and we are maximising the benefits of this, which is great.”