News
Nairn's Oatcakes serve up new breakfast club at Niddrie Mill / St. Francis Primary School
Nairn’s Oatcakes has joined up with leading life and pensions company AEGON to provide a healthy start to the day for primary school pupils at Niddrie Mill and St Francis, as part of the AEGON Breakfast Club programme.
Nairn’s is the latest Edinburgh based business to support and sign up to the AEGON Breakfast Club initiative which is a 3 way partnership between Edinburgh City Council, AEGON and The Heart of Midlothian Education & Community Trust. The programme aims to make a difference to the lives of Edinburgh’s primary school children by providing a free breakfast where there is an identified need.
Based in the Peffermill area of Edinburgh since 1935, nairn’s is a stone throw away from Niddrie Mill and St Francis Primary Schools and has been producing simple and natural oatcakes since 1896.
Nairn’s Director Mark Laing said:
“Nairn's is delighted to support this important new Breakfast Club at Niddrie Mill and St Francis. As leading manufacturers of healthy oatcakes and biscuits Nairn’s recognise the importance of a healthy breakfast to start the day. It helps the children to work and behave better throughout the school day.”
Read more in the full press release
APS paint a bright future for Breakfast Clubs at Colinton Primary School
Print Management Services company APS Group is to join up with life and pensions company AEGON to provide a healthy start to the day for primary school pupils.
APS is the latest organisation to support the AEGON Breakfast Club initiative which aims to help to make a difference to the lives of the city’s primary school children.
APS, which provides design, artwork, print and logistics services to high-profile organisations, presented Colinton Primary with a large canvass to enable the youngsters to create their own colourful masterpiece depicting a nutritious breakfast scene.
Director Allan Doyle from APS says:
“We are delighted to be able to support Colinton Primary School in this important venture which is organised by life and pensions company AEGON, one of our major customers. Research shows that breakfast is necessary to start the day off right and that children learn better at school if they have had a healthy breakfast.”
APS have signed up to sponsor the breakfast club at Colinton Primary School for the next 3 years.
Read more in the full press release
ARAMARK creates the recipe for success at AEGON Breakfast Club
Today children from Royal Mile Primary School joined by first team Heart of Midlothian players helped create healthy culinary creations in the ARAMARK kitchen. The children were celebrating the launch of their very own AEGON Breakfast Club at Royal Mile Primary, which will make a healthy breakfast available to all pupils.
ARAMARK Limited is a food service partner to organisations across a range of sectors, including business and industry, education, healthcare, offshore and defence. ARAMARK employs over 12,500 people in the UK, and provides tailor-made food services and refreshment solutions, including business dining, employee restaurants, retail facilities and coffee outlets throughout the UK.
Val Carter, Corporate Responsibility Director at ARAMARK said:
“The Breakfast Club event is an important part of ARAMARK’s ongoing commitment to Corporate Responsibility and pushing healthy eating up the consumer agenda. We are looking forward to working with AEGON on similar projects in the future.”
ARAMARK have signed up to sponsor the breakfast club at Royal Mile Primary School for the next 3 years.
Read more in the full press release
Saltman Brother's tee off a further years funding at Ratho Primary School
Golfing brothers Elliot, Lloyd and Zack Saltman swapped their clubs for cereal bowls today when they tucked into breakfast with youngsters at Ratho Primary School.
The sporting siblings were guests of honour at the AEGON Breakfast Club where the children were celebrating receiving further funding from local sponsors Edinburgh Airport.
The AEGON Breakfast Club at Ratho Primary School began in April this year and since then the club really has taken off and the children are continuing to enjoy all the benefits from a healthy start to their day.
Liz Walshe, Head Teacher of Ratho Primary School said:
“We are delighted that Edinburgh Airport has offered to fund our breakfast club for another year. Their generosity really makes a difference to the children and families of Ratho.”
Read more in the full press release
AEGON Breakfast Club flying high with Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Evening News 30th April 2009
Children from Ratho Primary School joined by first team Heart of Midlothian players visited staff at Edinburgh Airport. The children were celebrating the launch of their very own AEGON Breakfast Club at Ratho Primary, which will make a healthy breakfast available to all pupils.
Edinburgh Airport, owned by leading airport operator BAA is the fifth business to sign up to sponsor an AEGON Breakfast Club, and the second sponsor to be announced in 2009.
Gordon Dewar, Managing Director at Edinburgh Airport said:
“We are delighted to support the AEGON Breakfast Club. The programme provides an excellent opportunity to ensure the children begin their day with a healthy breakfast and boosts their concentration and their performance in the classroom. As a local business, Edinburgh Airport is committed to developing relationships with the local community.”
Read more in the full press release
Merchiston Building Services lay the foundations for Broomhouse / St Joseph’s AEGON Breakfast Club
Children from Broomhouse / St Joseph’s Primary School were joined by first team Heart of Midlothian players and staff from Merchiston Building Services. The children were celebrating the construction of their very own AEGON Breakfast Club, complete with trowels and hard hats.
Merchiston Building Services are the fourth local business to get behind the AEGON Breakfast Club. Merchiston Building Services specialise in joinery, building and shop fitting and are based in the East of Edinburgh.
Brian McEwan, Director of Merchiston Building Services, a former pupil at Broomhouse Primary School, an avid Hearts fan and local businessman was especially keen to get involved and help sponsor a school which was of particular importance to him.
Brian McEwan says:
“After being invited to the original launch I was very keen to get involved, it’s a great initiative and benefits so many children, providing them with the start to the day they need. As an ex-Broomhouse pupil, I’m glad this school will get the support for a breakfast club that they need.”
Read more in the full press release
AEGON Breakfast Club joins Hearts Players to launch a new Breakfast Club at Balgreen Primary
Children from Balgreen Primary School today joined the full Hearts team for a healthy winter warming breakfast to kick start their day.
The children were celebrating with the players the launch of their own AEGON Breakfast Club sponsored by McGrigors legal practice. The children were visiting the Hearts players at their training ground at Heriot Watt’s Riccarton Campus.
Balgreen Primary’s sponsor McGrigors is one of the UK’s most dynamic legal practices. McGrigors are the third local business to sign up to the AEGON Breakfast Club initiative this year, with Pirniehall/St David’s and Sighthill Primary Schools are already benefiting from a hearty breakfast in the morning. KPMG leading providers of professional services and SYKES global customer contact service, sponsored their local schools and were eager to be involved with the project upon hearing about the AEGON Breakfast Club’s launch. These partnerships were announced at the beginning of this year.
Ian Lyall from McGrigors says:
“We think this fantastic initiative will really give kids an important boost in the mornings. We are proud to support the AEGON Breakfast Club as part of our Horizons programme, where we seek to make a real difference to the communities we work in.”
Read more in the full press release
AEGON Breakfast Club in a Box
The AEGON Breakfast Club in a Box guidance manual was launched to Edinburgh schools' business managers and teachers. The manual will support schools with the organisation and management of its existing breakfast club or help with schools considering setting one up.
The manual has been produced with the support of the City of Edinburgh Children and Families Department, AEGON and the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust and is designed to provide:
- A reference guide to ensure that the breakfast club meets the minimum standards expected
- A first port of call for questions in relation to the day-to-day running of the breakfast club
- A source for further ideas and materials to complement and extend the breakfast club practice with additional educational activities
- A version of the AEGON Breakfast Club guidance manual will be available on the website soon!
AEGON Breakfast Club celebrates its first birthday!
The AEGON Breakfast Club celebrated its first birthday on 9 October at Heart of Midlothian football ground. AEGON representatives were joined by first team Hearts players and children from Dalry Primary School. Everyone enjoyed a delicious healthy breakfast on the pitch to honour the occasion.
Paul Blair from AEGON said
“We at AEGON are delighted at making a solid start with the AEGON Breakfast Club in its first year. With both KPMG and Sykes group joining AEGON and Heart of Midlothian Educational Trust as sponsors, children at Pirniehall and St David’s Primary School and Sighthill Primary are already enjoying the benefits of a healthy breakfast to start the school day. We are looking forward to signing up more schools and sponsors in the coming weeks.”
The AEGON Breakfast Club has had a great first year and we look forward to signing up more schools before Christmas.
Read more in the full press release
Clydesdale Bank to Support Staff Training Programme
The AEGON Breakfast Club would like to thank Scottish Premier League sponsors Clydesdale Bank for making a generous donation of £4,000 to the programme. This donation will allow us to provide training for the large number of staff who are involved in running breakfast clubs across the City.
A spokesperson from Clydesdale Bank said, “People are at the very heart of Clydesdale Bank’s business, and we take our responsibilities towards them, and the communities in which we live, seriously. We endeavour to play a positive role in the development of strong communities, and as SPL sponsor, what better way than to help the SPL clubs with their work in their own community.”
Muirhouse Housing Association Supporting Breakfast Clubs in North Edinburgh
The Muirhouse Housing Association has kindly made a donation to the breakfast club project. This funding will help us to support schools running breakfast clubs in North Edinburgh. It is hoped that we will be able to assist schools with unexpected additional costs, purchasing or replacing equipment and staff training.
The Muirhouse Housing Association’s Chairperson, Roy Douglas said, "Having worked hard to improve the standard of housing and the physical environment in Muirhouse over the last 15 years, MHA is now delighted to support the Breakfast Club project in North Edinburgh. We recognise that starting the day with a healthy meal is an aid to learning and we hope that by supporting the Breakfast Club, many of the next generation of residents, tenants and owners, in our community, get the most out of their time at school".
Tynie Tigers visit Woodlands Special School
Tynie and Teenie Tiger were out and about again in May to visit the staff and pupils at Woodlands Special School. Pupils were keen to show off their brand new school to the Tigers who came along with their friends from the breakfast club to share their healthy eating message.
After a healthy (but rather late) breakfast the Tigers and pupils went out into the sunshine to play some football. Pupils took it in turns to take penalties with the Tigers in the goals. It looks like the Tigers need some more practice as almost everyone managed to score a goal against them!
The AEGON Breakfast Club is inviting supporters to help establish breakfast clubs in all of Edinburgh’s special schools. Breakfast clubs play a vital role in many of these schools where children often travel quite early in the morning and can’t always eat breakfast at home.
Sykes Global ServicesLtd. to Support Neighbouring School
Edinburgh Evening News 6th February 2008
International communications company Sykes Global Services Ltd. have signed up to support an AEGON Breakfast Club at Sighthill Primary School for the next three years.
Their support will ensure that children accessing the club at the school can continue to enjoy a free breakfast every morning.
Sykes have an office just walking distance from the school and they were keen to stress the importance to them in supporting children and families in their community.
KPMG First AEGON Breakfast Club Local Partner
Edinburgh Evening News Thursday 15th November 2007
The AEGON Breakfast Club is pleased to announce that KPMG has become the first company to support the development of Breakfast Clubs in the City. An AEGON Breakfast Club was launched at St. David's RC Primary School and Pirniehall Primary School on 18th January 2008. Children from both schools attend a combined breakfast club which takes place in their joint dining hall on their shared campus.
A spokesman from KPMG said, "KPMG Scotland is delighted to sponsor an initiative that will make such a huge difference to children's lives. We are proud to be part of a scheme that serves the twin purpose of improving the health and well-being of primary school kids, while at the same time allows them to develop their social skills. We hope that all the benefits associated with the programme will help create new opportunities for the children through education, and if this can be achieved it would be very rewarding for KPMG.
The Breakfast Club initiative is undoubtedly a worthy cause, and we hope it can be a great success. Helping the community is part of our corporate values, and this is an excellent example of the firm's enthusiasm for contributing and trying to give something back locally.
Tynie Tigers on Tour
Edinburgh Evening News Friday 30th November 2007
Photo Credit - Callum Bennetts
Hearts mascots Tynie and Teenie Tiger have been visiting schools in Edinburgh to meet children at their breakfast clubs. Children at Castleview, Pirniehall and St. David's RC Primary Schools helped the tigers decide what they should have for their breakfast to make sure that they stay fit and healthy enough to play for Hearts every Saturday!
AEGON Breakfast Clubs Help to Launch National Food Policy Debate
Chef Nick Nairn joins Hearts stars to kick off good food drive
Scottish Government News article
Government and celebrity chef launch new food policy
Photo Credit - Scottish Government
Children at Sighthill Primary School, where a new AEGON Breakfast Club will be launched in early February were joined for breakfast by Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Scottish Celebrity Chef Nick Nairn, to bring attention to the launch of the Scottish Government's National Debate on Food Policy. 'Choosing the Right Ingredients; The Future for Food in Scotland' Discussion Paper.
Mr Lochhead stated, "We want the freshest, finest future for Scottish food. Supporting food production and manufacturing in Scotland is in our national interest. Food is about so much more than what we eat. It's about jobs, the environment, tourism and the health of our nation." Commenting on the AEGON Breakfast Club project which is due to be launched at Sighthill Primary School on 6th February he added "The Sighthill AEGON Breakfast Club is an excellent example of providing pupils with a nutritious start to the day. As part of our food policy we will be encouraging our young people to develop healthy eating habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives and tackle the serious problem of obesity."
Nick Nairn added his enthusiastic voice to the debate, saying that "It is imperative we don't under estimate the importance of breakfast to set us up for the day. Too many Scots children are going out of the house under-nourished and not able to achieve their full potential."
AEGON Breakfast Club official launch
The official launch of the AEGON Breakfast Club took place on 10 October at Tynecastle Stadium. It was a unique opportunity for local business leaders to hear about the Breakfast Club project from the founding partners, Hearts Education and Community Trust, Edinburgh Council and AEGON, with support from local restaurateur Tony Singh and children from Clovenstone Primary School. The event was very well attended, with several companies expressing an interest in becoming involved with the project.
AEGON Breakfast Club is front page news
On 25 September, founding sponsors the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust, the City of Edinburgh Council and AEGON announced the launch of the AEGON Breakfast Club initiative.
The press launch at Clovenstone Primary School was attended by Hearts players, key figures from the main sponsors and the community, and the Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram. There was coverage both locally and nationally, including the front page of the Edinburgh Evening News, Talk 107 radio station and the local news on BBC and ITV.
Download press release (PDF)
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