Category

• Promising Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Prevention
• Mitigation
• Awareness

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Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)

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Keywords

• Child Poverty
• Food Poverty
• Education
• Volunteering
• Food box

Aim

The main aim of the project is to ensure that primary school children living in poverty do not go hungry and are able to succeed in their education. This is pursued through the following objectives:
• Provide ‘Smarrt Cookie’ breakfast bars (vegan, with no artificial colours or flavours) to children who arrive at school without breakfast, supporting their school day.
• Provide Food Boxes containing non-perishable, long-life foods, particularly during school holidays when children who rely on school meals cannot access them.
• Provide fleece blankets to help keep children warm during the winter. These are for the children’s use, while the whole family can benefit from the food. Blankets are not always provided and are distributed based on demand.
• Provide ‘Early Bird Learning Kits’, which include workbooks, ‘Smart Cookie’ bars, a learning video, and a Cookie Plush Toy (RRT’s mascot).

Summary

The Edinburgh School Outreach Programme is a volunteer-led food relief initiative by the Rapid Relief Team (RRT). Aiming to reduce food insecurity and support children’s education, it assists primary school children in Edinburgh experiencing poverty. The initiative provides nutritious ‘Smart Cookie’ breakfast bars to pupils who arrive at school without having eaten and Food Boxes for families, particularly during school holidays. Once a term, pupils also receive ‘Early Bird Learning Kits’ containing educational resources, ‘Smart Cookie’ bars, and a Cookie Plush Toy (RRTs mascot). Regularly supported schools include Canal View, East Craigs, Sighthill and Clovenstone Primary Schools, as well as Prospect Bank School.

What difference does it make?

Terry has received extensive feedback from schools about the positive difference the project makes for children. Teachers report that pupils are more focused, less agitated, and far more settled once they have eaten, with a noticeable improvement in their ability to study. According to schools, the project has had a significant impact on children from low-income backgrounds, who are now less disruptive in class and better prepared for learning. This has also been reflected in improved grades and marks.
Terry also shared that when he arrives at schools, children greet him with great appreciation — for example, giving him fist bumps as he delivers Food Boxes. This gratitude underscores both the scale of need and the tangible difference the project provides.

Key take-aways

• There is a fundamental problem with children not being adequately fed in Scotland.
• Work poverty exists – many parents do not earn enough, even while working, to support their families.
• Food deliveries only mitigate the impact of poverty rather than dealing with the root cause of the problem.

 

Organisations

Rapid Relief Team with support from: • Canal View Primary School East Craigs Primary School • Sighthill Primary School • Clovenstone Primary School • Prospect Bank School

Location

Edinburgh (Edinburgh (Primary Schools: Canal View, East Craigs, Sighthill, Clovenstone, and Prospect Bank)

December 2022 (Christmas).

Contact