(Chris Radburn/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Religious leaders have backed the call for free school meals to be extended to more children living in poverty and urged the Government to make it a key priority this winter.
Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, said: “It is heartbreaking to think of children living in poverty facing this winter without free school meals and the impact this will have on their health, well-being and educational outcomes.”
It comes after the Evening Standard’s School Hunger investigation highlighted the call by the Food Foundation and a coalition of charities for free school meals to be extended to all children living in families that rely on universal credit.
Bishop Paul, who is lead bishop for the Church of England in the House of Lords on welfare issues, added: “The Standard has shone a light on the heroic efforts of schools to step in and support their pupils through initiatives such as school food banks but it really should not be down to them to fill this gap. All children in families in receipt of universal credit should get free school meals and I urge the Government to give this priority.”
There are 210,000 pupils living in households in London that rely on universal credit but miss out on free school meals because their parents earn more than the threshold of £7,400 a year excluding benefits. Data from the Child Poverty Action Group shows that more than 800,000 of the most disadvantaged pupils in England do not qualify for free school meals — the equivalent to one full class in every school.
London has the highest proportion of children in poverty who do not receive free school meals.
The Muslim Council of Britain said: “The impact of the pandemic, combined with a severe cost-of-living crisis, has meant that the scale and scope of hardship we are now seeing is deeply alarming. The council has long advocated for greater intervention from Government to tackle the rising levels of poverty and inequality in the UK. The Prime Minister must act, and swiftly.”
John Coleby, director of Caritas Westminster, the social action agency of the diocese of Westminster, said: “We are worried about families who are struggling but not entitled to universal credit.”
Caritas Westminster provides direct support to schools in 16 London boroughs.
Nearly half of households supported are on low income but their children are not eligible for free school meals.
Mr Coleby said one school told Caritas it has pupils that have to share beds with their parents — but still do not qualify for free school meals.
