Kids missing out their free meals

Addressing the committee, councillor Steven Rome – who represents the North East ward – labelled the numbers as “extremely worrying” and urged officials to find ways to increase the uptake.

He said: “I am aware that this is an issue but this is extremely worrying given that we are in a cost-of-living crisis.

“The sooner we can boost the number of people who are aware of their right to free school meals, the better.”

The report also highlighted that many young people did not consider that they had a positive enough experience at lunchtimes and, with the proximity of takeaways and supermarkets to many schools, were mainly choosing fast food options elsewhere.

Audrey May, executive director of the children and families services, noted that feedback from pupils had suggested they had “voted with their feet” and chose shops who provided “very cheap food”.

Labour councillor Kevin Keenan said: “For me it’s understandable that the uptake won’t be good and in some cases it might be about young people trying to be more adult.

“Given the price of electricity, gas, fuel costs and all the rest of it, there might be an increase (in the uptake).

“It’s always worthwhile trying to put the word out and trying to encourage the take-up, especially given where things are with household budgets being stretched.”

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “Our secondary schools work hard to raise awareness of free school meal entitlement and we engage with families around these issues as well.

“Aside from the free entitlement we also stress that the meals provided in our dining hall are healthy and nutritionally balanced. We are always looking at developing menus with our partner providers Tayside Contracts.”

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