I am immensely proud that the Mayor of London has followed my recommendation to expand free school meals to all primary school children, as set out in Growing Hungry, my report into London’s childhood hunger epidemic.
The spiralling cost of living means too many parents and carers are struggling to feed themselves, and their children. My report revealed the devastating fact that a quarter of a million children in London go to school, and go to bed, hungry as families cannot afford to buy the basic necessities. This included more than 7,000 children living here in Southwark.
Southwark is one of four London boroughs that already provides universal free school meals to state primary school children. I was thrilled to hear that Southwark Council will now be funding emergency free school meals in secondary schools for families on low incomes to run alongside City Hall’s initiative for primary schools.
Children do not stop growing when they reach the age of 11. Free school meals are a lifeline for families and remove the stigma around a low-income upbringing. We must have universal free school meals for all primary and secondary school children during term time, and school holidays. It will improve academic performance, health and development.
Councillor marches on Downing Street to demand free school meals across the UK
In London, we feel the rising cost of living more acutely than anywhere else. Extremely high housing costs, the huge hike in inflation and its subsequent impact on food and energy prices continue to hit the lowest paid the hardest. Rising food bills have seen households having to find more than £800 to pay for their supermarket bills compared to the same items one year ago. They are paying for the government’s flagrant mismanagement of our country’s finances.
I want to thank the amazing organisations and charities who strive for the same goal, including Gingerbread, Trust for London, Trussell Trust, Child Poverty Action Group, Coram, 4in10 and Pecan. Their work in tackling poverty is invaluable.
But the fight is not over. I have long advocated for a national free school meal policy. I am calling on the government to follow our lead and act to end the scandal of children going hungry at school.
In London, we have a Mayor with principles, who puts Londoners first. The Mayor’s recent budget, including the free school meals package and money to boost our public services, is the decisive action needed to meet the cost of living crisis, and the needs of Londoners. This landmark intervention will change lives.
Southwark Lib Dems say free school meals scheme should be expanded to secondary pupils