Campaigners welcome new book heralding universal free school meals as "good practice"
23.08.04

The Scottish Free School Meals Campaign today welcomed the publication of Recipe for Change: A good practice guide to school meals. The book highlights the introduction of universal free school meals in Hull as "good practice" and showcases Glasgow's Big Breakfast initiative giving free breakfasts to the cities 40,000 primary school children.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign, Marion Davis of lone parents group One Plus said;

'This new book highlights how, with political commitment, extending entitlement to free school meals is practical. Free school meals improve children's diets, but also relieve poverty by removing a very real financial burden parents face trying to move from benefits into work.'

According to recent Scottish Executive statistics 13% of pupils are entitled to and took a free school meal. Yet 27% of children live below the official poverty line, leaving an estimated 100,000 of Scotland poorest children missing out on free school meals.

Ms Davis continued; 'It is time the Scottish Executive took a lead in extending free school meals entitlement so that every child has at least one decent meal a day.'

For further information
Marion Davis, One Plus, telephone 0141 333 1450. 55 Renfrew Street, Glasgow.

Supporters
The Free School Meals Campaign has supporters across Scottish society. These are a few of them.

Organisations
Dundee Anti-Poverty Forum
Education Institute for Scotland
Members Scottish Churches Social Inclusion Network
One Parent Families Scotland
Pilton Health Project
Scottish Trade Union Congress
STUC Women's Committee
Scottish School Teachers Association
Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty
Unison
West Gap
NCH (Scotland)

Individuals
Joanna Blytheman
Tam Cowan
Professor Mike Lean
Dr Carlo Morelli
Dr David Player
Elaine C. Smith
Professor Annie Anderson

MSPs
Members of Scottish Socialist Party; Labour Party; Green Party; Liberal Democrats and following Independent MSPs
Dennis Canavan MSP
Margo McDonald MSP
John Swinburne MSP
Dr Jean Turner MSP

Notes:

• Scottish Free School Meals Campaign is co-ordinated by One Plus (contact Marion Davies 0141 333 1450), along with Poverty Alliance (contact Peter Kelly tel. 0141 353 0440 ) CPAG in Scotland (John Dickie 0779 289 0618 or 0141 552 3303),and the Scottish Youth Parliament (contact Sean Hanlon MSYP on 0774 344 8194).
  
  
• Recipe for Change eds. Hurley, C and Riley, A is published by CPAG on August 23rd 2004 in Scotland and is priced £9. For preview copies Ashley Riley on 020 7812 5216 or ariley@cpag.org.uk.
  
  The book includes chapters on a range of initiatives taken by education authorities across the country to enhance the role school meals play in tackling child poverty and ill health. The introduction of universal free school meals in Hull is described and Glasgow's Big Breakfast initiative showcased.
  Find out more about Recipe for Change and how to order
  
  
• For details of the latest Scottish Executive school meal statistics see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00347-00.asp