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This article is part of the FT’s financial literacy and inclusion campaign joint Seasonal application With Magic Breakfast

Since the Financial Times launched its first seasonal appeal almost 20 years ago, a common theme has run through our charitable endeavours.

Previous campaign partners have focused on a variety of good causes, but we’ve often connected with charities that help feed and educate young people: from CamfedOur first charity partner, which funds women’s education in Africa WaterAid And Action against hungerwhich aims to deal with more existential threats.

This festive season, we’ve combined those longtime interests in nutrition and education. FT’s homegrown charity FLIC (FT Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign) in association with Magic Breakfast For a joint appeal with twin focuses: the important difference that proper nutrition through healthy school breakfasts can make to young people’s ability to learn; And the important difference is that learning financial life skills can empower young people to lead successful lives.

With the support of FT readers, we aim to raise over £100,000 to expand Magic Breakfast’s free school breakfast provision and accelerate the rollout of FLIC’s financial education program for schools. The campaign will run until the end of the month and donations can be made ft.com/donate. If you haven’t donated yet, please consider supporting our work. Individual and corporate donations alike would be greatly appreciated.

In a troubled world, there is a wide range of worthy causes that we can all support – from charities that help in war zones or natural disaster relief to those that help the underprivileged.

The work of FLIC, which I chair, and the Magic Breakfast do not aim to compete with such important causes. But when it comes to tackling the best ways to support the next generation, you won’t get more grounded than our charity’s efforts. as Articles from this seasonal application As illustrated, there is a growing realization across the world — from Finland from Indonesia — That nutritious meal at school can make a big difference in later life.

between us FT view To launch the appeal, we highlighted a recent report by the UK’s Institute for Education Policy, a think-tank that found Children under five who experience food poverty are more likely to have poor math skills and cognitive development. We follow with an analysis The junk food crisis — and related obesity levels — hurt children. A healthy eating initiative at Hackney’s Mandeville Primary School has been a trend-beating success, with deputy head Kaltum Yusuf reporting that the children “just have more energy”.

Better financial education initiatives have been no less influential. Just one year after we launched our curriculum, FLIC is already present in over 600 schools across England, with plans to roll out across the rest of the UK by 2025. How the basics work — from credit card policies and buy-now, fixed-rate mortgage deals and pay-later loans to tax-incentivized savings benefits — it’s more important as consumers to online marketing and scams that often start on social media platforms.

feed the future

Support financial literacy and inclusion campaigns Joint seasonal application With Magic Breakfast

As Lucy Kellaway, veteran FT journalist turned teacher and FLIC trustee, Found in ManchesterA FLIC lesson on the financial risks of online gaming leaves the class he visited armed with valuable lessons. “I can’t think of so many 50-minute lessons that I’ve had in an entire teaching career that have had such a cut-and-dried result,” he concluded.

FLIC is keen to see everyday finance taught regularly around the world and has made recent submissions to the UK Government in England Curriculum review That effect. The charity extends its work to adults, including the armed forces And the NHS, it will expand its focus beyond the UK. This year FLIC will look to develop a joint program with India-focused education charity, Pratham, to launch a financial literacy initiative there.

As part of this year’s Seasonal Appeal we are delighted to have received endorsements for the appeal — and FLIC’s work — from key figures in UK national and local government. In A video interview with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan spoke passionately about the stigma of food poverty while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson made a highlight Opinion articles Government’s commitment to introduce breakfast clubs in all primary schools. As FLIC and Magic Breakfast work to improve their lives nutritionally and financially, we also hope to secure your approval. thank you

patrick.jenkins@ft.com