UHI North, West and Hebrides kickstarts the day with £6,300 of Student Breakfast Club funding
HISA have secured £6,300 in funding to provide free Student Breakfast Club across North, West and Hebrides campuses in 2026/7, helping students access nutritious food, reduce food insecurity and start the day well supported.
Students across UHI North, West and Hebrides will benefit from £6,300 in local funding to support free Student Breakfast Clubs during the 2026-27 academic year.
The Highlands and Islands Student Association (HISA) and UHI North, West and Hebrides have secured local funding to deliver the Student Breakfast Club Initiative across UHI North and West campuses during the 2026-27 academic year.
The funding comes from the Dounreay Communities Small Grant, Highland Council Discretionary Fund (Wards 11 and 21), and Baillie Wind Farm Community Fund, helping students get their day off to a good start without having to worry about the cost of breakfast.
And in Stornoway, the breakfast offering is already proving a hit thanks to generous support from Tesco, Co-op, CalMax Construction Ltd and Grillburger Frozen Foods Ltd. Students at the Stornoway campus can access free breakfast essentials including porridge pots, cereal bars, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and toast.
Run by UHI North, West and Hebrides Student Services, the Breakfast Club is designed to make breakfast simple and accessible — whether students have had a hectic morning, face a long journey to college, have tight bus connections, or simply don't have the time or money to eat before arriving.
For students travelling by bus, juggling work and study, or dealing with the everyday pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, a free breakfast can make a surprisingly big difference.
The initiative delivers on a commitment made by HISA’s North, West and Hebrides Depute President (North), Cole Garscadden. He said:
“I am happy to be a part of bringing of the project for free breakfasts. I’m aware that students that have to get buses or taxis into college rarely have enough time to make or pick up breakfast. I also know students struggle to find work that fits with their college hours in order to support themselves. Free breakfasts really help to address these barriers to their studies.”
HISA Local Coordinator Reatha Brunjes said:
“We're really grateful to Dounreay, Highland Council and Baillie Wind Farm for believing in this project. The Breakfast Club gives students a friendly place to meet people and feel supported, and we're looking forward to welcoming even more students along throughout the year.”
Feedback so far has been positive, with students highlighting the money they've been able to save by having access to food on campus.
The Breakfast Club provides more than access to free food and hot drinks. It also offers students a welcoming space to meet others, connect with friends and access support at the start of the college day.
The initiative aims to reduce student food insecurity by providing free and accessible breakfast options; support student wellbeing through nutritious food and opportunities for social connection, and support attendance, engagement and academic success by helping students start the day well nourished. It also strengthens campus communities by providing a welcoming and inclusive space for students.
UHI North, West and Hebrides is also extremely grateful to the local businesses supporting the Breakfast Club in our campuses. Their generosity, alongside the community funding secured across the region, is helping provide practical, everyday assistance to students.