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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

This article is part of the FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign UNITED seasonal appeal with Magic Breakfast

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

Past campaign partners have focused on a variety of good causes, but we’ve always partnered with charities that help feed and educate young people: from Camfedour debut charity partner, funding female learning in Africa, at WaterAid and Action Against Hungerwhich aims to deal with more threats.

This holiday season, we’re combining those long-standing interests in nutrition and education. The FT’s homegrown charity FLIC (the FT Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign) in association with Magic Breakfast for a joint appeal with a twin focus: the significant difference that proper nutrition can make in young people’s capacity to learn, through healthy school breakfasts; and the significant difference that learning financial life skills can make in young people’s capacity to go on to live successfully.

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

In the midst of a troubled world, there is a wide range of worthy causes that we can all support – from charities that support those in war zones or alleviate natural disasters to those that provide for of the poor.

The work of FLIC, which I sit on, and the Magic Breakfast do not seek to compete on important causes. But when it comes to the best ways to support the next generation, you can’t get more fundamental than the efforts of our charities. As the articles from this seasonal appeal described, there is a growing awareness around the world – from Finland on Indonesia — that nutritious meals in schools can make a big difference in future lives.

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

Good financial education initiatives have less impact. Almost a year after we started rolling out our curriculum, FLIC is now available in more than 600 schools across England, with UK-wide rollouts planned for 2025. buy now, pay later loans of the benefits of fixed-rate mortgage deals and tax-incentivised savings – more important, because consumers are bombarded with online marketing and scams that often start on social media platforms.

Feed the future

Support the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign’s combined seasonal appeal 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 left the class he visited rapt and armed with valuable learning. “I can’t think of many 50-minute lessons I’ve given throughout my teaching career that have had such a cut-and-dried result,” he concluded.

FLIC wants to see daily finance consistently taught around the world and submits to the recent UK government in England. curriculum review to that effect. As the charity expands its work to adults, including the armed forces and NHS, it will also expand its focus beyond the UK. This year will see FLIC undertake a joint program with Pratham, the India-focused education charity, to launch a financial literacy initiative there.

As part of this year’s seasonal appeal we were delighted to secure endorsements for the appeal — and the work of FLIC — from key figures in UK national and local government. on a video interview with London mayor Sadiq Khan Speaking passionately about the stigma of food poverty as education secretary Bridget Phillipson launched a opinion article the government’s promise to launch breakfast clubs in all elementary schools. As FLIC and Magic Breakfast continue their missions to improve nutritional and financial lives, we hope to earn your endorsement as well. Thank you.

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