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This article is part of the FT’s campaign for financial literacy and inclusion connector seasonal appeal with the Magic Breakfast

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

Previous campaign partners have focused on a range of good causes, but we’ve often linked up with charities that help feed and educate young people: from Camfedour first charity partner, which funds the education of women in Africa, for WaterAid and Action against hungerwhose goal is to solve multiple existential threats.

This holiday season, we have combined these long-standing interests in nutrition and education. The FT’s home charity FLIC (FT’s Campaign for Financial Literacy and Inclusion) partnered with A magical breakfast for a joint appeal with a dual focus: the crucial difference good nutrition can make to young people’s ability to learn, through healthy school breakfasts; and the crucial difference that learning financial life skills can make to young people’s ability to go on to live successful lives.

With the support of FT readers, we aim to raise more than £100,000 to expand Magic Breakfast’s offering of free school breakfasts and accelerate the roll-out of FLIC’s financial education program for schools. The action lasts 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 will be 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 mitigate natural disasters to those that care for the poor.

The work of FLIC, which I chair, and Magic Breakfast is not intended to compete with such vital causes. But in finding the best ways to support the next generation, you don’t get more fundamental than the efforts of our charities. As articles from this seasonal call illustrated, there is a growing awareness around the world — of Finland to Indonesia — that nutritious food in schools can make a big difference in future lives.

In ours FT view to launch the appeal, we highlighted a recent report by the UK’s Institute for Education Policy, a think-tank, which found Children under five who experience food insecurity are more likely to have poor math skills and cognitive development. We continued with the analysis the junk food crisis — and associated levels of obesity — affecting children. A healthy eating initiative at Hackney’s Mandeville Primary School has been a resounding success, with deputy headteacher Kaltum Yusuf reporting that the children “just have more energy”.

Good financial education initiatives have had no less impact. Barely a year after we started rolling out our curriculum, FLIC is already in over 600 schools across England, with a move to the rest of the UK planned for 2025. The foundation of how basic finance works – from credit card principles and buy now, pay later loans in favor of fixed-rate mortgages and tax-advantaged savings — all the more important, as consumers they are bombarded with online marketing and scams that they often start on social media platforms.

As Lucy Kellaway, a seasoned FT journalist turned teacher and FLIC trustee, found in ManchesterThe FLIC lesson on the financial risks of online gaming left the attending class enthused and armed with valuable learning. “I can’t think of many 50-minute lessons I’ve taught in my entire teaching career with such a cutoff score,” she concluded.

FLIC wants to see everyday finance routinely taught around the world and made a submission to the recent UK Government in England curriculum review in that sense. As the charity expands its work to adults, including the armed forces and the NHS, will also expand its focus beyond the UK. This year, FLIC will develop a joint program with Pratham, an educational charity focused on India, to launch a financial literacy initiative there.

As part of this year’s seasonal appeal, we were delighted to secure support for the appeal — and the work of FLIC — from key figures in UK national and local government. IN video interview with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan spoke passionately about the stigma of food insecurity, while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson pointed out in opinion piece the government’s promise to open breakfast clubs in all primary schools. As FLIC and Magic Breakfast pursue their missions to improve lives nutritionally and financially, we hope to secure your support as well. Thanks.

patrick.jenkins@ft.com