Huge rise in number claiming free meals at schools

FIGURES SHOW IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON FAMILIES

THE number of children eligible for free school meals in Nottinghamshire has increased by more than 3,000 since the start of the pandemic.

This is according to latest data from Nottinghamshire County Council, which shows a large rise in all district and boroughs.

When the country first went into lockdown in March, a total of 19,061 people were eligible to claim for free school meals for their children across the wider county - the figures do not include the city of Nottingham.

This number has increased steadily over each month this year, before rising to a total of 22,294 by the end of October.

It means 3,233 more people are eligible and in need of free school meals now than when the pandemic first started.

The area hardest hit by the increase is in Ashfield, where the number rose from 4,187 to 4,825 in just seven months.

Other areas like Mansfield and Bassetlaw have also seen sharp increases, with rises also recorded in more typically affluent areas like Rushcliffe.

Councillor Samantha Deakin represents Sutton Central and East in Ashfield on Nottinghamshire County Council.

She said: “Ashfield has far and above the highest number of free school meal claimants in the county.

“This has grown exponentially during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Of course this is concerning but I am pleased that residents are accessing these vital services.

“Free school meals are often the only hot meal that some pupils get - they are critical and previously my daughter relied on them.

“They are a lifeline but the growth in claimants during lockdown lays bare the devastating affect that the pandemic has had on jobs and food poverty in places like Ashfield.”

The sharp increase across all areas of Nottinghamshire follows a long-standing campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford to extend free school meal vouchers into the school holidays.

As a result of his latest campaign, the Government recently announced its ‘Covid Winter Grant’ scheme - a project aimed at supporting the hardest-hit communities and providing funds for food, heating and bills.

But throughout Nottinghamshire, a number of schemes are already in place or have been set up to support families struggling to put food on the table.

In Gedling, where the number of eligible claimants rose from 2,404 to 2,769 between March and October, the borough council has set up a fund and raised £10,000 to provide food for families during the school holidays.

Councillor Michael Payne, deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, said: “We set up this campaign in support of Marcus Rashford’s incredible efforts to highlight the harsh reality that children were going hungry during half term and we could not stand by and do nothing.

“Since we launched our campaign, the local authority responsible for children’s welfare, Nottinghamshire County Council and the government have announced that they will change their policies and will also provide support, an announcement that we welcome.

“We will use this money to support local families in our borough to help ensure that no child will go hungry in our borough this Christmas and into the New Year and Easter holidays too.”

Nottinghamshire County Council, which is responsible for overseeing educational provision throughout the county, also has a number of schemes in place.

This includes spending £675,000 to ensure that every vulnerable family has access to food, with around 22,000 children and young people supported over the Autumn half term.

The council has also been provided with £858,000 of emergency funding to support people who are struggling financially due to the pandemic.

A further £348,000 has been allocated to charity groups across the county.

Councillor Philip Owen, chairman of the council’s children and young people’s committee, said: “We’re continuing work to encourage eligible parents to register and claim free school meals, so part of the increase may be due to that.

“It may also be that parents who were eligible in the past, who have not previously claimed free school meals, are now doing so due to recent publicity.

“Undoubtedly, however, there are families across the UK and in Nottinghamshire who are struggling due to the impact of the pandemic.

“Our Emergency Assistance Fund is continuing to support families who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to the economic impact of Covid-19.”

Nottingham City Council could not provide official figures for how many new eligible claimants there are for free school meals.

However, the council says the total number within the city is slightly less than 12,000.

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, portfolio holder for children and young people, said: “The scale of child poverty in Nottingham is concerning and, although we do not have official figures to show, it is inevitable that we are in a worsening position.

“Covid-19 threatens to undo any progress we make as it not just takes lives but takes livelihoods.

“We want the best for our children and this council is committed to continuing to address child poverty and strive to make Nottingham a place where all children can flourish.”