DURING my time as a teacher and school inspector, I noticed how much diet and education are linked.

DURING my time as a teacher and school inspector, I noticed how much diet and education are linked. Children living in poverty are the most affected, having worse health and lower aspirations and educational achievements.

But something as simple as running a breakfast club, an after-school club or volunteering your time during the day in a school can make all the difference.

Research shows that providing children with a decent meal before the start of a school day can help reduce truancy and improve pupils' academic performance, and this is something we can all help with.

The Dare to Care: Make time to help end child poverty campaign, is being run by CSV, the UK's leading volunteering charity and the Campaign to End Child Poverty, and aims to recruit 35,000 volunteers.

As part of Health Month we are encouraging people to give their time to help disadvantaged children by running breakfast clubs, after school clubs or giving their time to volunteer in primary schools. To find out more visit www.daretocare.org.uk or call FREEPHONE 0800 284533 - Professor Gervase Phinn, author and broadcaster, Dare to Care, CSV (Community Service Volunteers), Pentonville Road, N1.