Today (14th May 2025) a new £3 million Bright Start Breakfasts Fund will open to applications.
The fund will expand access to breakfast clubs for primary school children by combining provision of healthy and nutritious breakfast food with before-school supervision or childcare enabling early drop off for parents to support them to work or study.
Nearly 50% of primary and special schools in Scotland already provide access to breakfast. The purpose of the Bright Start Breakfast fund will enable existing breakfast clubs to expand their provision and will support the establishment of new breakfast clubs where there is a need in the 2025/26 academic year.
Funding will prioritise clubs that support access to families on the lowest incomes, or most at risk of living in poverty, providing access regardless of their ability to pay. It will also expand access in areas where access to a breakfast club is needed most.
Inspiring Scotland is delivering the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government and is part of the ongoing commitment to tackle child poverty and help families with the cost of living.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:
“I am delighted to formally launch Bright Start Breakfasts, a programme which will crucially support our central mission to eradicate child poverty. This investment will create more free places at breakfast clubs across Scotland and give more children a positive start to the day, supporting them to achieve their learning potential.
“We know how important a healthy breakfast can be for children, particularly those most at risk of poverty, and I am grateful to providers who have already shown a keen interest to get involved. With applications now open I would encourage anyone interested in applying to get in touch with Inspiring Scotland to find out more.”
Julia Abel, Director of Funds from Inspiring Scotland said:
“Inspiring Scotland is committed to improving the lives of children and young people in Scotland. We are pleased to be supporting the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan through the Bright Start Breakfasts Fund and importantly doing more to directly support children and families experiencing poverty.
“We recognise that the timescales for the funding opportunity are tight so that decisions can be made before the end of this school year. I encourage all potential applicants to utilise all the available information and guidance about the fund and to contact us with any questions they may have.”
It is acknowledged that Breakfast club delivery arrangements can vary and may be delivered by a wide range of organisations therefore the fund is open to a wide range of applicants, including:
Applicants will need to evidence how any expanded or new service will contribute to reducing poverty for families and how delivery will be weighted towards families on low-income.
Application guidance notes and further information on how to apply is available here.
The deadline for applications is 12pm noon Monday 2nd June 2025.
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