Citizen view: Why we must remove the stigma of Free School Meals

In the latest of a series of blogs from citizens who have experienced food insecurity our Food Ambassador Glory Omoaka shares her thoughts on Labour's election victory and what she'd like the party's priorities to be

The Food Foundation has set out 10 Cost Free Policies. In the first 100 days of the new government, I am calling on the Labour Party to pledge to auto-enrol children onto the Healthy Start scheme and Free School Meals.

This is a unique opportunity for the new government to make significant steps towards a healthier society and lay a foundation for a brighter future for all children.

Access to nutritious food and early childhood support is more than just a lifeline for families struggling to get fruit and vegetables and eat healthier.

Promoting healthier eating, combating child hunger and fostering good educational outcomes are just some of the purposes of the Healthy Start scheme and Free School Meals.

Early childhood determines a great deal of how a child will thrive in the future. To ensure a fruitful future generation, there is a need to provide the resources and support during the crucial early years of a child’s life.

Research consistently shows that poorly nourished children have worse educational outcomes, while well-nourished children are well-equipped to learn, concentrate and perform better academically.

Unfortunately, many children do not receive a nutritious lunchtime meal due to barriers in claiming Free School Meals and lack of awareness.

Auto-enrolment would eliminate these barriers, promote equality and ensure that all eligible children receive the same support regardless of their parents' ability to navigate the process of applying for both Free School Meals.

I actually advocate for universal provision of Free School Meals instead of only for people on low incomes, because of my personal experience, what I have heard from others or witnessed.

My child was embarrassed, bullied and called names because she did not have money to spend during break time like her peers. For these reasons she stopped eating school meals. I was unaware until I noticed some significant changes in her. I was heartbroken that the impact on her self-esteem meant she decided to go hungry.

In order to foster a more equitable and supportive society, we at The Food Foundation are using this opportunity to advocate for policies that will make a real difference in the lives of children across the country.

I urge the new government to commit to addressing child hunger and to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

It is time to take action and make a lasting impact on the future generation of our nation as well as elevating the stress of struggling families who are not able to access or afford a decent meal and eat healthy due to limited finances.

This is a call to action to reduce inequality, improve early years nutrition and ensure that no child goes hungry during the school day leading to improved academic performance.