John* loves toast. It’s his favourite thing to have for breakfast or at least it is now since he started coming to our breakfast clubs. He would rush over to the breakfast table and even before he was asked what he’d like for breakfast, ‘Toast’ was always already out of his mouth.

Sandra, the Barnardos project worker, would then ask him what he would like on his toast? Marmalade, butter, jam – strawberry or blackberry. It was a long list especially for John. Sandra made sure he got what he wanted and he had plenty of choice. John sometimes changed his mind on the toppings, but it was always toast as the starting point. Breakfast was his favourite meal.

At Christmas time, the kids in the breakfast club were asked what they would like from Santa. When John was asked, he said he’d like the Barnardos toaster. When asked why, he said it was the only time the adults listened to him. He felt he had control over this one thing in his little life. His parents loved him, but they were struggling themselves and they weren’t in a position to have lots of options when it came to food.

Sandra organised a voucher for John’s parents, so they were able to source a green toaster for him, just like the one at Barnardos. John was so delighted with his gift and that his parents now spoke with him about the things that were important in his life.

It’s thanks to people like you, hosting a Barnardos Big Breakfast, that children like John can have a full tummy before going to school and that they can find their voice in a sometimes hectic world.