Zayn Malik calls on Prime Minister to extend free school meals
Zayn Malik has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to offer free school meals “to every child in poverty in England” amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Taking to Instagram last night (November 7), the former One Direction member shared a letter he’d written to the PM. “No child should have to suffer the trauma and stigma of hunger & poverty,” he captioned the post.
“We want every child to grow up healthy to lead productive lives.”
The letter began: “I am writing to share my concern about the struggles children are living through because of the cost-of-living crisis and to ask for your help to ensure no child living in poverty misses out on a hot nutritious meal at school especially since that school may be the only hot meal they receive all day.”
“We are all aware that the difficulties facing families right now are profoundly serious. Four million children live in households who experienced food poverty in September 2022. In addition, 800,000 children in England miss out on a Free School Meal even though they are living in poverty.”
Malik continued: “These children are suffering from lack of concentration, some even resorting to stealing food from school canteens because they are so hungry but can’t afford to buy lunch. They are also feeling shame which is directly impacting their physical and mental health.”
The singer, who grew up in Bradford, West Yorkshire, went on to recall experiencing such shame “first-hand” as a youngster. “I relied on Free School Meals,” he wrote. “I personally experienced the stigma surrounding food insecurity.”
He added: “My hope is that in writing this letter we can all ensure that no child ever has to experience this hunger and stigma again as my experience is not unique; it is a struggle that many children in England are sadly going through right now.
“As I see it, extending the current threshold and giving Free School Meals to children from families on Universal Credit would be the best way to reach those who need it most.”
Malik said that this approach would prevent children from “enduring the worst of the cost of living crisis which in turn only creates bigger divides between the richest and poorest” of society.
“Free School Meals are such a big help for the poorest children in our society and they guarantee a reliably hot, nutritious lunch every day at school, so children can thrive rather than worrying about where their next meal comes from.
“I hope-the government does what’s right and makes the changes that are needed. Parents are already doing everything they can, but Government support is desperately needed. No parent should have to make impossible decisions like whether to buy food, turn on the heating, or go into debt.”
The letter continued: “Knowing that their children are getting a good lunch at school would be a huge relief to parents who are struggling. These pressures will only get worse as food and energy prices keep rising.
“As Prime Minister, you have the power to change this. Please act in good conscience and commit in your Budget on 17th November to giving all children living in poverty a Free School Meal. Children going hungry is not inevitable and should not come down to a political issue or ideology.”
According to the government, approximately 1.9million children in England are currently eligible to receive free school meals – which is 22.5 per cent of all pupils (via the BBC).
All infant pupils are eligible but children in Year 3 and above are required to live in a household receiving income-related benefits, with an annual income no higher than £7,400 (after tax, and not including welfare payments).
The government has said that during term time it “provides more than 1.6million free school meals, providing pupils from the lowest-income families with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal”.
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Tom Skinner
NME
