Christians Against Poverty welcomes “lifeline” free school meals expansion and urges further action on child poverty.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has welcomed the Government’s announcement today to extend free school meals to all children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit, effective from September 2026.
The expansion is expected to benefit over half a million more children across England, helping to lift 100,000 out of poverty. CAP recognises that giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day supports learning, behaviour and better outcomes, helping to give them a chance to succeed in work and life.
Data from polling commissioned by CAP and conducted by Opinium in December 2024, showed that:
35% of parents/carers with children under the age of 5 have debt they are struggling to repay.
31% of parents/carers of children under 18 have a deficit budget, in contrast to 17% of non-parents
CAP views this announcement as a significant step forward, and one that moves closer to the universal provision CAP has long advocated for, having joined the national Free School Meals for All campaign back in 2023.
CAP’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Juliette Flach, said: “At CAP, we support thousands of families across the UK who are navigating the immense pressures of the cost of living crisis. For many, the struggle to put food on the table is a daily reality. We agree wholeheartedly that nutritious school dinners provide immense benefits to children, especially those from low-income families, offering crucial support for their health, development, and ability to learn.
“Knowing their children will receive such a meal at school, while on Universal Credit, will be a genuine lifeline and a huge relief from financial strain. No child should go to bed hungry. No child should grow up in the cold. Parents and carers are doing all they can, but for many their income is not high enough to cover the high costs they face.
“At CAP, we welcome the free school meals eligibility changes. It marks a significant development in the provision of free school meals, and a key policy change that CAP has actively advocated for. This is more than just a policy update, but a vital step forward in the fight against UK poverty.
Juliette Flach continued:
“While this is excellent and much-needed news, the fight against child poverty is far from over. The implementation date of September 2026 means many families will endure further hardship before this support reaches them. We also urge the Government to address other systemic issues that trap families in poverty, including the urgent need to review and scrap the two-child limit benefit restriction.
“CAP continues to call for a society where every child can flourish, free from the grip of poverty. We look forward to seeing further ambitious strategies that build on this positive step.”
ENDS
