Business management software firm The Access Group has raised almost £1m over the last year to support a charity set up to tackle food insecurity among disadvantaged pupils.

Figures for the firm for the financial year ending June 2024 show that £930,000 was raised for the Magic Breakfast, which is the Group’s charity of the year for 2023/24 and provides breakfasts to children impacted by poverty.

Fundraising activity by the Access Group for the charity has included a senior leadership team, involving chief executive Chris Bayne, abseiling down the side of the company’s head office in Loughborough. This raised £40,000 in matched fundraising.

Sponsored powerlifting and a walk across parks in London also took place.

“We are immensely proud of our team's dedication and generosity in supporting Magic Breakfast and the other global charities through our fundraising efforts in the last year,” said Access Group chief employee success officer Caroline Fanning.

“The fundraising highlights our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the communities we work in worldwide. By coming together, we have not only raised vital funds but also reinforced our company's core values of compassion and social responsibility.”

The charity has been operating for more than 20 years. Food insecurity has particularly escalated over the last 14 years in the UK under the former Conservative government’s austerity measures and benefit cuts.

Ahead of July’s general election the charity pointed out that the Labour Party, which forms the new government, and the Green Party were the only two political parties to commit to delivering breakfast provision across all of England’s primary schools.

Magic Breakfast chief executive Lindsey Macdonald added: “We’re truly blown away by the incredible fundraising efforts by employees at The Access Group. Over the past year, they have taken on some inspiring fundraising challenges, from taking on a powerlifting World Record to abseiling down the side of their offices.

“With just 28p needed to fund a Magic Breakfast, the fundraising efforts by The Access Group will significantly impact our work providing essential breakfasts to children and young people in our partner schools. This support fuels their learning and sets them up for bright futures."

The money raised for Magic Breakfast forms the bulk of Access Group’s global total of £1.3m raised for charities.

This includes supporting good causes in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the US and Malaysia.

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