EVALUATION REPORTS AND RESEARCH PAPERS |
A Day in the Life of a Secondary School Pupil in Relation to School Food An exploration of how school meal uptake and individual dietary uptake during the secondary school day can be improved to support pupil's health, wellbeing, attendance and educational attainment. Kitchen Social research report An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Kitchen Social programme at the individual, family and community level, as well as developing a fuller understanding of the context in which the hubs operate. |
Evaluation of ‘A Day Out, Not A Handout’ holiday provision programme An exploration of the potential relationship between club provision and children's health, nutrition and wellbeing, as well as the potential relationship between club provision and parents' stress, isolation, financial strain and overall wellbeing. |
Holiday club programmes in Northern Ireland: The voices of children and young people An investigation into the views of children and young people into holiday provision across three holiday clubs in Northern Ireland. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2021 |
Holiday hunger and parental stress: evidence from North East England Summer is a stressful time of year for many parents as they struggle to meet household expenses and feed children. This study looked at the association between holiday hunger and parental stress among a sample of UK parents with school age children living in North East England, finding that holiday hunger caused considerable distress among parents during the summertime. Published in Sustainability, 2020. |
Holiday clubs as community organisations One benefit of holiday clubs is that they provide healthy food to low-income children when schools are not in session. While holiday clubs are known for feeding children who may go hungry, they also provide additional anti-poverty benefits that strengthen community wellbeing. This research documents the important additional benefits beyond food that holiday clubs deliver to food insecure households. Published in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2020. |
A question of justice: are holiday clubs serving the most deprived communities in England? Holiday hunger in the UK has led to the establishment of hundreds of holiday clubs that feed children during the school holidays. This research examines where those clubs are located and if they are being established in communities where they are needed the most. Published in Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 2018. |
Investigation of summer learning loss in the UK – implications for holiday club provision Summer learning loss is a problem for many UK households with school aged children. This research examined learning loss in spelling and word reading for school children in disadvantaged areas in the North East of England and west of Scotland who did not attend a holiday clubs over the summer. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2017. |
The impact of holiday clubs on household food insecurity – a pilot study Holiday clubs help feed children in the UK during school holidays, but it is not clear whether they reduce food insecurity in a child’s household. This research surveyed parents and other caregivers about food security in their households and found that holiday clubs may serve as an important resource to help reduce holiday hunger across the UK. Published in Health and Social Care in the Community, 2017. |
School holiday food provision in the UK: a qualitative investigation of needs, benefits and potential for development This research investigates the views of staff and volunteers working in holiday clubs to gauge their views about the needs and benefits of holiday food provision. The investigation revealed that staff and volunteers believe that holiday clubs are a valuable source of support for children and adults, providing food, activities, and learning experiences. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2016. |
Universal free school breakfast: A qualitative process evaluation according to the perspectives of senior stakeholders This study assessed senior stakeholder views on the processes and potential outcomes on different groups, within the communities served by school breakfast programmes. Published in Public Health Frontiers, 2016. |
Breakfast clubs: Starting the day in a positive way A study of directly observed children's behaviour within breakfast club settings to devise a set of observational criteria and investigate the occurrence of positive and negative behaviours. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2015. |
More than just a meal: Breakfast club attendance and children’s social relationships An investigation of attendance at breakfast clubs and after school clubs to assess their impact on children's friendship quality and experiences of peer victimisation. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2015. |
The advantages and disadvantages of breakfast clubs according to parents, children and school staff in the North East of England, UK An investigation into the views of parents, children and school staff on school breakfast clubs. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2015. |
A Literature Review on the Effects of Breakfast Consumption and School Breakfast Clubs A review of the academic literature that has been published on children’s breakfast consumption and the impact of school breakfast clubs on children’s diet, health, and educational success. Published by Feeding Britain, 2020 |
Universal free school breakfast: a qualitative model for breakfast behaviours A study to investigate the beliefs, views and attitudes, and breakfast consumption behaviours among key stakeholders served by a council-wide universal free school breakfast initiative in the North West of England. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2015. |