Over 35 food poverty experts and organisations sign letter to save Universal Free School Meals
The letter, sent to the Sunday Times on 18 October makes the case for keeping Universal Free School Meals for four to seven year olds.
This scheme was introduced in September 2014 in England and Scotland. A petition to government has been set up over fears the scheme may be cut in the November Comprehensive Spending Review, with mixed messages coming from Government in the wake of a previous letter written by health experts and coordinated by the Childrens Food Campaign.
The letter sent to the Sunday Times in full:
Universal Free School Meals is the best way to help children out of food poverty
Dear Sir/Madam,
It is a sad truth that 28% of our children live in poverty and that many have a poor diet as a result. In September 2014 the Government boldly introduced free school meals for all four to seven year olds, but apparently may now scrap them to make savings. The Prime Minister recently declared himself 'proud' of the policy (a manifesto commitment) and we now call on him to provide certainty to children, parents and school leaders by making a clear and unequivocal commitment to saving Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) and to properly fund the provision.
UIFSM helps families out of food poverty. An Ipsos Mori poll found that eight per cent of parents say their children have missed meals because they cannot afford food. Providing a healthy, free school meal helps tackle child hunger, boosts attainment, especially for the poorest children, and helps parents with the costs of living.
It also incentivises work. Without UIFSM, families with young children who move into work and earn over £16,190 would have to pay around £400 per child per annum for school meals -– a significant cost for families on low pay.
A Children’s Society report from 2014 found significant stigmatisation and bullying associated with free school meals, which led to children not taking up the offer. That is why we need ALL children to sit down for a meal at lunchtime, not just the ones who come under the threshold. We believe that the government should not only keep UIFSM but should increase their support to all families living in food poverty by extending current eligibility criteria and offering resources for breakfast and holiday meals for children most in need.
We urge your readers to sign a petition of Parliament to keep universal infant free school meals in schools in England.
Signed
Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming
Child Poverty Action Group
AdviceUK
Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE)
The Bishop of Truro
Rosie Boycott, Mayor of London’s Food Adviser
Brighton and Hove Food Partnership
Baroness Lister of Burtersett
Emeritus Professor Jonathan Bradshaw
Buttle UK
Kim Catcheside
Professor Tim Lang and Professor Martin Caraher, Centre for Food Policy
Children England
Church Action on Poverty
Steven Cummins, Professor of Population Health
Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Dowler
Family and Childcare Trust
First Love Foundation
Food for life/Soil Association
Food Matters
Gingerbread
Healthy Start Alliance
Magic Breakfast
NAHT: National Association of Head Teachers
NASUWT: The Teachers Union
NUT: National Union of Teachers
Taxpayers against poverty
The Scottish Out of School Care network
Sustainable Food Cities
The Mayor’s Fund for London
Trussell Trust
Trust for London
Turn2us
Unison
War on Want
Professor John Veit-Wilson
4 in 10
Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE)
The Bishop of Truro
Rosie Boycott, Mayor of London’s Food Adviser
Brighton and Hove Food Partnership
Baroness Lister of Burtersett
Emeritus Professor Jonathan Bradshaw
Buttle UK
Kim Catcheside
Professor Tim Lang and Professor Martin Caraher, Centre for Food Policy
Children England
Church Action on Poverty
Steven Cummins, Professor of Population Health
Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Dowler
Family and Childcare Trust
First Love Foundation
Food for life/Soil Association
Food Matters
Gingerbread
Healthy Start Alliance
Magic Breakfast
NAHT: National Association of Head Teachers
NASUWT: The Teachers Union
NUT: National Union of Teachers
Taxpayers against poverty
The Scottish Out of School Care network
Sustainable Food Cities
The Mayor’s Fund for London
Trussell Trust
Trust for London
Turn2us
Unison
War on Want
Professor John Veit-Wilson
4 in 10
Published Sunday 18 October 2015
Food Poverty: Millions of people in the UK struggle to get enough to eat. We’re working to change that through people-powered projects and campaigns that tackle the root causes of food poverty and ensure everyone has dignified access to healthy, affordable food.
