Free food for kids all year round

Weekend and holiday meals

Coatbridge is to host a major pilot programme to provide free meals for youngsters from lowincome households on every day of the year.

The proposed “Food 365” scheme would see the council make meals available during holidays and at weekends for thousands of pupils who qualify for free meals at school.

North Lanarkshire would become the first authority to cover food provision on all 175 non- schooldays of the year – making it the “most comprehensive” programme in the UK.

Smartcards would be issued to more than 16,000 youngsters allowing them to attend various community facilities for holiday meals, with the total cost estimated at £415,000.

The Coat b r idge pilot programme will run during the spring holiday; with the full scheme to be rolled out at 23 hubs across North Lanarkshire – one for each secondary school cluster – in time for the summer break.

Education convener Frank McNally said: “These proposals are the most ambitious in the country.

“North Lanarkshire has one of the highest concentrations of deprivation, and this is only going to be exacerbated by further welfare reforms.

“Groups like [ foodbank organisation] the Trussell Trust are struggling to cope with demand from parents and research has suggested that pressure on foodbanks doubles during the holidays.”

The Labour councillor added: “A good diet plays a key role in healthy growth and development, supporting learning and social skills; our plans will promote healthy eating and address some of the symptoms of poverty for children who need it most.”

SNP counterpart Tom Johnston added that his group is “delighted” with the plans, saying: “Children shouldn’t go hungry simply because the schools are closed for holidays.

“We proposed to introduce this very policy as far back as 2003; the SNP will support this proposal but will amend it, to continue breakfast clubs and extend them to cover every primary school in North Lanarkshire.”

Conservative group leader Meghan Gallacher also welcomed the policy but is seeking longer-term assurances over its funding.

She said: “While I’m pleased the council is attempting to combat child poverty, I’m concerned about its sustainability. SNP austerity means councils are having to cut services year on year; I don’t want to implement a policy if we can’t guarantee its future.”

Nearly 21 per cent of children in North Lanarkshire live in low- income households, compared to the national average of 18.4 per cent; while Scottish Government research indicates that welfare reforms will cost residents a combined total of £64 million to £78m per year.

Just over 6000 pupils are eligible for free school meals as their families receive benefits, while more than 10,000 in P1-P3 also do so as part of the national entitlement for younger pupils.

Councillors were due to give the go- ahead for the project at a meeting of the education committee as the Advertiser went to press yesterday.

Our plans will promote healthy eating and address some of the symptoms of poverty for children who need it most

Ambitious plans Councillor Frank McNally