Two of Newham Council’s leading campaigners in the fight for better childhood food security have welcomed the government’s announcement to extend free school meals.
From September 2026, every child in a household in England receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.
This move is worth up to £500 per child per year in family budgets, helping to take up to 100,000 children out of poverty.
It follows months of lobbying by School Food Review and others who have argued for an expanding free meals provision for pupils.
Among those taking the campaign to government were Newham councillors Neil Wilson and Sarah Ruiz.
In a joint statement they said: “This is a fantastic result for the School Food Review, of which Newham Council are proud to have played a part, and for the very many parents and carers who face a daily financial struggle because they have chosen to have children.
“We know from experience in Newham that our Eat for Free provision in primary schools made a real difference to the pupils. Today those free school meals continue to give them the chance to fulfil their full potential.
“So it is gratifying that the government has listened to our success and chosen to expand the offer.
“But our work doesn’t end here. We want to see all our children and young people benefiting from free healthy meals at school up to the age of 16.”
They added it was a big step towards the School Food Review’s vision of healthy, sustainable school food for all.Two of Newham Council’s leading campaigners in the fight for better childhood food security have welcomed the government’s announcement to extend free school meals.
From September 2026, every child in a household in England receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.
This move is worth up to £500 per child per year in family budgets, helping to take up to 100,000 children out of poverty.
It follows months of lobbying by School Food Review and others who have argued for an expanding free meals provision for pupils.
Among those taking the campaign to government were Newham councillors Neil Wilson and Sarah Ruiz.
In a joint statement they said: “This is a fantastic result for the School Food Review, of which Newham Council are proud to have played a part, and for the very many parents and carers who face a daily financial struggle because they have chosen to have children.
“We know from experience in Newham that our Eat for Free provision in primary schools made a real difference to the pupils. Today those free school meals continue to give them the chance to fulfil their full potential.
“So it is gratifying that the government has listened to our success and chosen to expand the offer.
“But our work doesn’t end here. We want to see all our children and young people benefiting from free healthy meals at school up to the age of 16.”
They added it was a big step towards the School Food Review’s vision of healthy, sustainable school food for all.
