“KickStart Breakfast is one way Sanitarium and Fonterra give back to communities and is part of our commitment to promoting health and nutrition through a great start to the day.

Alongside support from the New Zealand Government, KickStart Breakfast is based around a community partnership model – Sanitarium and Fonterra provide cereal and milk, and each school community takes responsibility for preparing and delivering this to students in need each week.  After a great response to a pilot in 30 decile one schools in 2008, Sanitarium and Fonterra partnered up to offer the programme to all decile one to four schools across New Zealand in 2009. Today KickStart Breakfast is available to all decile 1-10 primary, intermediate and secondary schools and operates in over 900 schools, showing children how important a balanced breakfast is for learning.

We’ve had great feedback on the programme with teachers and principals noting that children who have had a nutritious breakfast perform better throughout the school day. Breakfast clubs are about more than eating breakfast at school. The engaging environment encourages students to develop social skills and take on extra responsibility.  KickStart Breakfast Clubs rely on the work of devoted and inspirational volunteers coordinators, student leaders and principals to make things happen. Since 2014, KickStart Breakfast have celebrated their contribution with the KickStart Breakfast Awards. The Awards recognise the true champions of KickStart Breakfast who deliver and maintain the values of the programme:

• – Positivity
• – Proactive
• – Purposeful

There are three awards categories:

1. Breakfast Club of the Year – This award recognises a KickStart Breakfast Club that excels in delivering a quality programme for their students, school and community. It will be presented to a Club that understands and lives the KickStart Breakfast values, helping more students to achieve their best by having a great start to their day.

2. Student Champion of the Year – This award acknowledges student champions who have shown an exceptional and outstanding commitment to their KickStart Breakfast Club. It recognises our KickStart leaders of tomorrow and promotes aspiring youth leadership.

3. Unsung Hero of the Year – This award recognises a volunteer’s contribution to their KickStart Breakfast Club (so students are not eligible in this category). It will be presented to a volunteer who ensures their KickStart Breakfast Club is run to a high standard and its values are upheld and maintained throughout the year.”

Weet-Bix™ have sponsored the All Blacks since 1998 bringing with it a 20 year long tradition of player cards in pack. As the Official Breakfast of the All Blacks, we have been able to share some pretty cool messages with Kiwi kids through our campaigns such as 2017’s Dare to Dream and 2018’s Play Big.

Play Big aims to encourage Kiwi kids to get outside and play, through telling the iconic childhood stories of some of New Zealand’s biggest sporting heroes – the All Blacks and the Black Ferns. Each card tells a different story, such as Rieko Ioane playing spotlight with his cousins until midnight or Selica Winiata playing Padder Tennis at the local primary school in Levin, and how playing these games outdoors with friends and family helped them to gain the skills they use on the rugby field today.

Weet-Bix™ partnership with the All Blacks continues to allow us to encourage and inspire Kiwi kids.

Every young kid grows up with the dream of holding their hands up in triumph and being presented with a winner’s medal. The Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon™ has made that dream a reality for many, by awarding over 350,000 medals to kids since 1993.

Today it has become the world’s largest sporting event for kids, something we can all be really proud of. With a focus on giving it a go and trying your best, the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon™ celebrates kids’ achievements and helps share Weet-Bix’s passion for promoting active, healthy lifestyles. Available to kids aged 7-15, everyone is encouraged to give it a try. The 2018/19 series will take place in locations all around New Zealand and is made possible thanks to our volunteers, both community members and Sanitarium staff. It is the 27th year the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon™.

Check out our Facebook page and website try.weetbix.co.nz to get involved now!