Councils pressed on free school meal report - "this is personal" says Oldham leader

Nearly one in ten children in Greater Manchester have fallen into a nasty trap.

They live in poverty - but they can’t get free school meals, because government criteria are ‘too restrictive’, according to a new report from anti-poverty campaigners.

The report, from GM Poverty Action (GMPA) and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), suggests that 46,000 children out of Greater Manchester’s 585,000 under-15s - eight per cent - fall into this category. 

Government rules say free school meals can only be given to schoolchildren whose parents receive one or more of a range of benefits, including universal credit - but the family must earn less than £7,400 net annually to qualify.

For its part, the Department for Education says this government has extended eligibility for free school meals since 2010. 

A statement added: “We understand the pressures many households are under, which is why we have extended eligibility for free school meals to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century - doubling the number of children receiving free school meals since 2010 from one sixth to one third.

"We have also put protections in place to ensure that children who are eligible for free school meals retain that entitlement even if their household circumstances change.”

But the issue has prompted an emotional response from Greater Manchester’s political top brass.

Arooj Shah, Oldham’s leader, says it’s ‘personal’ to her.

“It’s not just about numbers; it’s about human decency,” she added.

“We owe it to our children to provide them with the most fundamental of needs: nourishment.

"It’s disheartening that we’re even having this conversation in a society as advanced as ours.”

She isn’t alone. Joanna Midgeley, deputy leader in Manchester, says she’s lobbied the government for more help, but those ‘pleas have unfortunately fallen on deaf ears’. 

“However, we will continue to make the case for vulnerable residents in Manchester, and through programmes such as Making Manchester Fairer, do our part in alleviating the impact of deprivation and poverty,” she continued. 

And Andy Burnham, the top dog in Greater Manchester, says ‘no child should be refused a hot, healthy meal, should they need one’.

He also supports a review of the policy to introduce ‘targeted’ intervention for those who need it.

Their words come after the Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted all 10 Greater Manchester councils and the Mayor’s office following the release of the report.

At the time of writing, eight of the 11 replied.

Their responses are provided below.

Greater Manchester Mayor
A statement on behalf of Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “We support the call for a review of national free school meal policy, and believe a targeted approach would deliver the best outcomes for young people in our city-region.

"Pupils will never thrive inside and outside the classroom, if they are learning on an empty stomach.

“Three years ago, we established a Food Security Action Network, to tackle food poverty and end holiday hunger in Greater Manchester.

"No-one in Britain should go hungry, and no child should be refused a hot, healthy meal, should they need one.”

Oldham
Oldham had 5,000 children in poverty but unable to claim free school meals, the third-highest in the city-region.

Its council leader, Labour’s Arooj Shah, said:  “When a child is living in poverty and cannot access free school meals, it’s a glaring sign that our system is failing them.

"The current criteria simply doesn’t reflect the harsh realities many families endure.

"It’s not just about numbers; it’s about human decency.

“We owe it to our children to provide them with the most fundamental of needs: nourishment.

"It’s disheartening that we’re even having this conversation in a society as advanced as ours.

"Our children, regardless of their backgrounds, deserve equitable opportunities from the outset.

“For me, this is personal.

"It’s about setting the foundation right - ensuring that no child goes hungry.

"It’s time for decisive action.

"I’ll relentlessly pressure the Government in my role as Leader, to acknowledge this pressing issue and work toward a solution.

"Our children’s well-being cannot wait, and neither should our resolve to address this injustice.”

Manchester
Councillor Joanna Midgley, deputy leader of Manchester City Council - the authority with the highest number of children affected - said: “We are all too aware of the desperate conditions families are being forced into as a result of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, as well as the lingering impact of more than a decade of austerity on public services. 

“Given the difficulties many families face, provision such as free school meals are vital in ensuring that children are well-fed and able to go to school without having to worry about hunger.

“We are on record as having lobbied the government for a long time to expand the support on offer for vulnerable families, pleas which have unfortunately fallen on deaf ears.

"However, we will continue to make the case for vulnerable residents in Manchester, and through programmes such as Making Manchester Fairer, do our part in alleviating the impact of deprivation and poverty.”

Bolton
Bolton had 5,500 children in this category, the second-highest in Greater Manchester.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said it has ‘worked closely with local partners to develop a comprehensive package of support for families struggling with the cost of living’.

“Help is available regardless of eligibility for free school meals, including our local welfare provision, financial advice and housing support,” they added.

“More details are available on the dedicated Cost of Living section of the council website.”

Wigan
Wigan council were asked to confirm the veracity of the claim that 4,000 children in its borough were affected by the issue, but a spokesperson said the authority was unable to.

They did, however, add they ‘do not have an issue’ with the figure in this context, given ‘it is based on a survey and GMPA’s interpretation of data’.

Salford
Some 4,000 youngsters were identified to be living in relative poverty but unable to access free school meals, the report said.

The council did not provide a comment before the deadline.

Rochdale
Like Salford, the report found 4,000 children in Rochdale were in this category.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “The number of children living in poverty in Rochdale borough is constantly changing and linked to the pressures of increased cost of living and changing family circumstances.

“We are aware that there are vulnerable children and families living in poverty who do not meet the national criteria for free school meals and we have been supporting them in a number of ways.

"This includes working with families who are not eligible for free school meals to help them access free membership to food clubs, providing free food bags for six weeks and then at significantly reduced cost every week after then.

"Families can also access food banks in the borough and a number of other schemes, for example, school uniform support and seasonal gifts.

“In response to the issue of free school meal eligibility impacting children across the borough, we have also extended the criteria for our Holiday Activities Fund Programme which provides activities and a meal for children during the holiday period.

"Our school holiday food voucher scheme also includes not just children eligible for free school meals, but also those who we know may need support, because a family has approached us or a member of staff or professional working with the family has identified that they would benefit.”

“Additionally, we have a cost of living tool kit providing staff working in partners organisations access to advice and support for families living in poverty who may not be eligible for free school meals.

"They also signpost families to useful information and other support organisations.  

"Our Early Help Assessments also identify those families in need of support with debt and or poverty.

"The council has a poverty group looking at how we can continue to support our most vulnerable children and families living in the borough of Rochdale.”

Trafford
Roughly 3,500 children in Trafford are affected by this issue, according to the report.

The council did not provide a comment before the deadline.

Tameside
Like Trafford, 3,500 Tameside kids are impacted by the criteria, the report claims.

The council did not provide a comment before the deadline.

Stockport
A spokesperson for Stockport council, where 3,000 children are hit by this issue, said: “Approximately 3,000 Stockport children living in low-income households in receipt of local council tax support and/or housing benefit, have been contacted by Stockport Council and given the opportunity to enrol on the council’s school meal support scheme. 

“Children who have enrolled on to the scheme have been provided with a paid for school/college meal each day of term during the 2023/24 academic year.

"Over 1,300 Stockport children are receiving this support.”

Bury
Around 3,000 children are hit by the issue in Bury, and Councillor Lucy Smith, its cabinet member for children and young people, acknowledged ‘the cost-of-living crisis is hitting all families hard’.

She added: “The idea that food inflation going down suddenly makes food affordable completely misses the point. No child should go hungry in Bury in 2024.

"Whether it is tackled by raising families out of poverty or giving children a meal at school, it is clear that more must be done by this Government.”

Coverage compiled by Ethan Davies, Charlotte Hall, Chris Gee, George Lythgoe, Nick Jackson and Declan Carey - Local Democracy Reporters

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