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South West College Launches Winter Warmer Campaign with Free Breakfast Clubs Across Campuses

09 Feb 2026

South West College (SWC) has launched its Winter Warmer Campaign, introducing free Breakfast Clubs across its Enniskillen, Omagh and Dungannon campuses to support students and local families during the winter months.

The new initiative, funded by the Department for the Economy and supported by College staff and the SWC catering team, provides every student with a free breakfast roll, hot drink or bottled water, ensuring learners can start their day nourished and ready to engage with their studies.

The Breakfast Clubs will operate at the Dungannon and Omagh campuses from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 10.30am, while students at the Enniskillen Erne and Technology and Skills Centre campuses can access the service every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 10.30am, ensuring consistent access to a free breakfast across all locations.

The initiative has been established in response to growing evidence around the importance of breakfast for young people. Research shows that nearly half of young pupils in Northern Ireland skip breakfast before starting their academic day, with those from economically disadvantaged households significantly more likely to go without. Studies, including research by the University of Leeds, highlight strong links between eating a healthy breakfast and improved wellbeing, behaviour, concentration and readiness to learn.

Celine McCartan, Principal and Chief Executive at South West College, said:

“This is a fantastic initiative and I am very grateful to the College staff who are supporting it. It means students can get a quick breakfast as soon as they arrive at college, setting them up for the day ahead.

At South West College, we are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our students, while actively addressing inequality. The benefits are wide-ranging, from alleviating financial anxiety and providing another social outlet, to positively impacting students’ physical and mental wellbeing, which in turn supports their academic success.

We hope this initiative will foster a strong sense of community across our campuses. It is one of a wide range of supports delivered through our Student Services team to ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential while studying with us.

We are already seeing strong engagement, and the feedback from students and staff has been extremely encouraging. We look forward to growing and developing this scheme to meet the needs of our students, particularly in the current economic climate.”

Sharon Pritchard, Student Engagement and Support Manager at the College, added:

“We all know how important it is to start the day with a nutritious breakfast, yet evidence suggests many of our students are beginning their college day too hungry to learn, which can impact both their learning experience and overall health and wellbeing.

Some students may simply miss breakfast in the morning, while others may be facing financial pressures. At SWC, wellness is a major focus, and we are delighted to offer this initiative to everyone, ensuring every learner has access to a nutritious breakfast before starting their academic day.”

The Winter Warmer Campaign forms part of South West College’s wider commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion and support, helping learners thrive both academically and personally.

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