What Is Before the Bell?

 

At Monarch Education, we’re proud to support a transformative initiative from our parent company, Affinity Workforce. Before the Bell, a campaign designed to tackle food insecurity and ensure every child starts their school day ready to learn. 

 

Before the Bell is a social impact programme that provides free school breakfasts to pupils in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. It’s built on a simple but powerful belief: no child should be too hungry to learn. 

 

This initiative goes beyond recruitment. It reflects Affinity Workforce’s commitment to shaping futures and supporting the communities we serve. Every day, we place supply teachers and education support staff in schools across the UK who see first-hand the challenges children face, and Before the Bell is our way of stepping up to help. 

 

 

Why It Matters

Food insecurity is a growing crisis in UK schools. According to the Family Resources Survey (2023–2024): 

 

  • 1 in 10 UK households are experiencing food insecurity 
  • Families with children are twice as likely to rely on food banks 
  • 90% of households with very low food security did not use a food bank in the past month 

 

These figures represent real children in real classrooms, children who may struggle to concentrate, engage, or succeed simply because they haven’t had breakfast. 

Supporting Magic Breakfast: Our Charity of the Year

 

To further our commitment to ending child hunger, Affinity Workforce has partnered with Magic Breakfast as our Charity of the Year. Magic Breakfast provides nutritious breakfasts to over 300,000 children across England and Scotland every school day, helping boost attendance, focus, and wellbeing. 

At Monarch Education, we’ve embraced this mission wholeheartedly. So far, our teams have raised £1,230 through creative and fun fundraising activities, including: 

  • Flapjack Friday – homemade treats from one of our consultant’s children 
  • Corinna’s Diet Coke Break – £1 per can for charity 
  • Sam’s Cookies– irresistible baked goods for a good cause 
  • Conference Bingo – raising over £1,100 in one go! 

 

And we’re just getting started. With more events planned — from quizzes to coffee mornings — we’re committed to raising even more for Magic Breakfast and making a meaningful impact on children’s wellbeing in schools. 

Learn more about Magic Breakfast

A Brighter Future Starts Before the Bell

 

By supporting Before the Bell and Magic Breakfast, Monarch Education is helping build a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive. It’s about more than food, it’s about dignity, opportunity, and hope. 

 

To learn more about Before the Bell and our partnership with Magic Breakfast, visit the official campaign page click the button below.

Before the Bell Campaign