Business and financial advisory firm Grant Thornton UK has named children’s charity Magic Breakfast and the women’s education charity Baytree Centre as the first two beneficiaries of grants from its newly formed Foundation.

Each charity will receive a £20,000 donation from the Foundation, which has been set up to support good causes focused on tackling social exclusion.

National charity Magic Breakfast provides breakfasts to pupils in areas of disadvantage.

“Magic Breakfast was chosen by the Foundation’s trustees because it aligns with the collective objective of supporting young people in disadvantaged areas; it has a national reach and the ability to impact many children in a positive way,” said Grant Thornton.

“Providing a daily school breakfast ensures that every child and young person feels included, equal and set up for success.”

Magic Breakfast’s director of fundraising and development Emily Wilkie added: “This support will enable us to provide the equivalent of over 70,000 breakfasts for children and young people at risk of going hungry.

“A nutritious breakfast helps ensure that no child is too hungry to learn, enabling children and young people to reach their potential.”

Meanwhile, Brixton based Baytree Centre is an educational charity that focuses on helping vulnerable women and girls.

It was selected by the firm’s Foundation “because it is working to tackle social exclusion and poverty at grass roots levels and there is the opportunity to support the charity’s growth and reach by working together”.

Baytree Centre development director Carmen González said: “We believe in the potential of every girl and young woman, and we are excited because this generous donation from the Grant Thornton Foundation allows us to further our mission of providing the essential tools and support needed to help all young women thrive and build brighter futures.

“This donation enables us to support those who need it most."

Jenn Barnett, head of inclusion, diversity and ESG at Grant Thornton and one of the Foundation’s eight trustees said: “The Foundation is a tangible demonstration of our values, doing what’s right for society and our industry.

“It’s well-known that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds and disadvantaged areas find it more difficult to enter education and advance professional careers.

“By working together through the Foundation, and enabling collective giving across Grant Thornton UK, we can achieve more than we ever could individually. Through our combined efforts, we aim to support charities that help young people from disadvantaged areas overcome social barriers and achieve their potential.”

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