Story: Rob Smith
8.15am, Monday 5th July 2004 and I’d been invited to Byron Wood School’s breakfast club.
“This began in June,” explains Joanne Cooke, one of the initiators of the club. “Jointly funded by New Deal and the LEA, it has been very popular from the beginning and we have around twenty kids here every morning.”
The sound of all those children laughing and chatting drew my attention and seeing the array of breakfast food on offer I wasn’t at all surprised. Cereal was at 10p a bowl, a slice of toast: 8p with jam, 5p without. Orange juice was 5p a cup, hot tea 10p, with yoghurt at 20p and cereal bars 25p. I also saw apples, bananas and oranges as I went around. Some parents stayed to enjoy the half hour of breakfast and table games.
Assisting Joanne Cooke, with the breakfast club are Nick Cassim, Mr Esam Abdulkader and Dina Makim.
A real appeal for sponsorship
“We are trying to see what effects this all has on classroom achievements,” added Joanne, who is also appealing for local sponsorship. “We’re keen to hear from local stores, shops and greengrocers in a bid to help sustain the club another year.”
If you are a local shop, business or fresh fruit outlet and would like to help this initiative contact Joanne Cooke on 272 3624.