Djanogly Learning Trust is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for its work with an international charity to provide hot meals to school children in Nottingham.

Djanogly Learning Trust and Akshaya Patra UK won the Trust Collaboration award category of this year’s Optimus Education’s MAT Excellence awards.

Award-winning charity Akshaya Patra runs a range of food programmes linked to education and serves fresh food at schools, holiday clubs and homework clubs in the UK and India.

The charity decided to run a two-month pilot project last year after being approached by Djanogly Learning Trust, which has 11 schools in the East Midlands.

The Trust’s Springfield Academy in Bulwell, Nottingham, was the first school nationally to pilot a Hot Meals and Homework club with Akshaya Patra UK.

This involved serving around 500 nutritious hot meals a week in the school hall to pupils and their families at the end of the school day.

To create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, the school hall dining tables were dressed with tablecloths, flowers and battery operated candles. Meanwhile, jazz music played in the background.

Due to the success of the pilot, Djanogly Learning Trust has since expanded the scheme. In addition to the project continuing at Springfield Academy, it is also running at Djanogly Northgate Academy and Djanogly Strelley Academy, both in Nottingham.

Mark Mallender, Chief Executive Officer, Djanogly Learning Trust, said: “We’re really proud of this project and how it is supporting our local communities in the face of cost of living pressures. Extending the school day to help some of our families with learning coupled with offering a nutritious meal is definitely having an impact.”

He explained: “Children are more attentive because they are not hungry, school attendance has improved, relationships with families have strengthened and parents are more involved in their children’s education. Winning this award in partnership with Akshaya Patra is really positive recognition of that.”

Daniel Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Akshaya Patra UK, said: “After 25 years of feeding children across India, Akshaya Patra is pleased to now be making a meaningful impact here in the UK too. Our after-school programme, Hot Meals and Homework, was born from a common belief that every child deserves the fuel to learn and the support to succeed.

“In partnership with Djanogly Learning Trust, we are proud to have created a programme that bridges both the nutrition and attainment gaps for children living in disadvantaged communities. We are delighted to share this award with Djanogly and hope it will spur on further support so we can grow this initiative – ensuring even more children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

In their comments, the judges cited Djanogly Learning Trust and Akshaya Patra UK’s ‘incredible work’ addressing disadvantage and child poverty as a key highlight.

The submission, judges said, was bolstered by its focus on the growing challenges related to child wellbeing, inspiring leaders, closing the disadvantage gap and their regional impact in challenging areas. Strong parental engagement and deepened community spirit led a judge to remark: ‘To have achieved what they have done, I think is unbelievable.’

Seventy two multi academy trusts and 21 companies were shortlisted for the awards, which comprised 18 categories. The winners were announced at a ceremony attended by 440 guests at Leonardo Tower Bridge, London, on 19th June 2025.

Pictured: Staff from Akshaya Patra UK and Djanogly Learning Trust celebrate winning a MAT Excellence Award.