Arch Insurance International partners to tackle UK hunger and literacy gap

By Rebecca Delaney

Jan 28 - (The Insurer) - Arch Insurance International has unveiled a charity partnership with Magic Breakfast and the National Literacy Trust to address growing educational inequality in the UK.

According to the Education Policy Institute, hunger and poor literacy skills are two of the most significant barriers to learning. Children from financially disadvantaged areas finish primary school on average 19 months of learning behind their peers.

One in seven state primary schools in England do not have a library or a dedicated reading space, with this figure rising to 25 percent in disadvantaged areas, according to the National Literacy Trust.

This means around 750,000 children in the UK do not have access to books and a reading environment that support higher levels of academic achievement.

In addition, one in five children live in food-insecure households in the UK.

The Breakfast Bookstars programme was developed by Arch Insurance International, Magic Breakfast and the National Literacy Trust to create greater educational equality by providing nutritious breakfasts, well-equipped libraries and related support services to primary schools located in some of the UK’s most financially disadvantaged areas.

The initiative will impact 7,000 school children every year, with the programme initially focused on supporting 25 primary schools across London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Arch employees will play an active role in the initiative through volunteering days and school visits with children’s authors, as well as helping to install new libraries and reading areas.

Hugh Sturgess, CEO of Arch Insurance International, commented: “Arch is honoured to be part of such a beneficial and socially impactful initiative. It is vital that we break the cycle of educational disparity faced by primary school children in financially disadvantaged areas.

"Through this partnership with Magic Breakfast and the National Literacy Trust, we want to provide children, regardless of their socio-economic background, with equal opportunities to achieve their potential and realise their ambitions.”

Liz Little, head of corporate partnerships at Magic Breakfast, added: "Magic Breakfast are delighted to be working in partnership with Arch and the National Literacy Trust to deliver the Breakfast Bookstars programme. We are grateful for the support from Arch in developing this exciting new programme, championing the importance of a healthy start to the day for all children and young people."