Business diary: Kicking off with breakfast

A bad diet can stop children from achieving their potential at school, which has potentially disastrous long-term consequences for the region’s economy. Diary is proud to highlight the work of the public-spirited business people who are doing their bit to ensure thousands of children get the best possible start to the school day.

Since late 2012, The Town Foundation – the registered charity of Huddersfield Town – has run breakfast clubs which have served around 450,000 breakfasts to local children.

Thanks to the support of the local community, the project has grown to serve breakfasts to 1,200 children across 18 clubs every morning.

The foundation and the club are using National Breakfast Week, which started yesterday, to throw the spotlight on the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the Early Kick-Off breakfast club project working.

Several supporters of the Town Foundation will also get involved by holding their own ‘Big Breakfasts’ for employees and guests; these include Orchard Energy, Abzorb, Ferno, Fantastic Media, Blue Apple, PPG and P2 Technologies.

The Town Foundation’s Fundraising manager Mandy Taylor said: “Breakfast provides the young people who attend our clubs with the energy and nutrients needed for an important day of learning at school, but they wouldn’t be possible without the support of so many generous individuals and organisations.”

For more information visit www.htafcfoundation.com.

Lighting the way

Online estate agency Your Natural Habitat has set up a partnership with a charity that supports children with cancer and their families.

The Skipton-based estate agents will donate 15 per cent of it fees to Candlelighters in Leeds.

Oliver Naylor, managing director at Your Natural Habitat, said: “We are extremely excited to partner with Candlelighters to help raise funds and support their great work fighting children’s cancer.

“It is vitally important to us that we are able to offer something back to local families and communities.” He added: “Through our partnership with Candlelighters, we see the opportunity for a three-way win; first is to save our clients thousands in fees, second is to contribute significantly to the fundraising efforts of Candlelighters through regular donations and third is to establish Your Natural Habitat as the leading online estate agent in North and West Yorkshire.

“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Candlelighters.”

Little is a lot

Yorkshire-based housebuilder Strata is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for a charity that provides help and support for families and children with special needs and disabilities.

Strata’s staff, supply chain, families and friends will embark on an ambitious series of fundraising events and challenges throughout 2016, including the Major Series in Leeds, the Great North Run and a Charity Summer Ball, for Little Hiccups.

Little Hiccups is a Leeds-based support group that was set up six years ago by parents who have children with special needs.

Linsay Medica, who co-founded the support group, said: “Little Hiccups gives parents a chance to meet others, share experiences and help focus on the positives our children bring.

“We’ve grown from turning up with a bag of toys and a jar of coffee into stay and play sessions, outreach and monthly family fun days, such as cinema, skiing and days out.”

Andrew Weaver, chief executive of Strata, said: “We are delighted to be working with Little Hiccups in 2016. We met Linsay last year and were bowled over by her commitment and vision for a very personal cause. We hope to match her energy and enthusiasm in our fundraising efforts throughout the year.”