George Best Belfast City Airport extends support for Cregagh Primary School breakfast club

George Best Belfast City Airport extends support for Cregagh Primary School breakfast club

 

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, 2017-May-25 — /Travel PR News/ — Pupils at an east Belfast primary school are celebrating their favourite meal of the day at their Breakfast Club, thanks to a three-year commitment from George Best Belfast City Airport.

The financial support, first provided by the airport’s Community Fund in 2016, is being extended for another two years, ensuring pupils at Cregagh Primary School start their day with a nutritious breakfast that will sustain their energy and concentration levels until break time.

David Heggarty, Principal at Cregagh Primary School, said:

“Not only does the club promote healthy eating and help improve our pupils’ focus levels, but the social aspect of the club is becoming as important as the nutritional benefits. The pupils can take time to socialise, play and spend time with each other outside of the classroom.”

“Since the inception of the club, teachers reported a noticeable improvement in children’s participation and engagement in learning and the school’s Pupil Council noted that our children reported the club to be one of the best additions to school life. Seeing the line of smiling faces in the Breakfast Club each morning is proof of its wonderful impact.”

“The support from the airport has been fantastic so far and we are delighted it has committed to another two years to facilitate the club.”

The club is the latest to receive support from Belfast City Airport’s Community Fund which, now in its eighth year, has provided over £300,000 of financial support to over 100 local community projects and groups.

Charlene Brooks, Chief Executive of Parenting NI added:

“Often busy family lives can result in children having breakfast on the go or worse still- skipping breakfast altogether, which can potentially have a negative impact on their overall health and weight, their teeth and their ability to pay attention in school.

“In addition, unfortunately some families simply don’t have the resources or abilities to enable them to prepare nutritious well balanced breakfasts which can put them at a real disadvantage when preparing for the day. The establishment of breakfast clubs in schools such as the local initiative in Cregagh PS, which has been funded by George Best Belfast City Airport, is to be warmly welcomed as it offers children to indiscriminately access a range of healthy foods to set them up for the day.”

Stephen Patton, Human Resources Manager at George Best Belfast City Airport, said:

“Belfast City Airport is delighted to be able to work with Cregagh Primary School to help deliver its Breakfast Club. As our schedules get busier and time for healthy eating becomes shorter, the Breakfast Club is a fantastic support for busy parents and pupils.”

“Supporting young people within our local community and enhancing their wellbeing is a key objective of the airport. Having seen the positive response from teachers, pupils and parents after the first year of the Breakfast Club, we are thrilled to continue to back the initiative.”

For more information on the Community Fund or to find out how your group can apply for funding, please visit: http://www.belfastcityairport.com/Community/Community-Fund

Source: George Best Belfast City Airport

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