Major victory for campaign to extend Free School Meals

The Food Foundation is delighted plans have been announced to extend Free School Meals to all families in England receiving Universal Credit.

The government says around half a million children will benefit from the change.

This is a major victory for the Feed the Future campaign, which we and a coalition of other charities have been working on for up to seven years.

🥳 Great news that #FreeSchoolMeals are being extended to all families in England receiving Universal Credit!

Around 500,000 children will benefit - we'd love @GOVUK to consider auto-enrolment as part of the roll out.

Read more: https://t.co/VYQHL7Hwbi#CostOfLivingCrisis… pic.twitter.com/6ARi5AuwNJ

— The Food Foundation (@Food_Foundation) June 5, 2025

The changes to Free School Meals are due to come into force in September 2026.

Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Food Foundation, said: "This is a landmark day for children. Free School Meals bring multiple benefits - they relieve family finances, they protect children's health and they help children learn.

"Coupled with the announcement to improve school food standards today's the government shows it is serious about  breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring every child in Britain has the chance to grow up well nourished - a commitment which is at the heart of their forthcoming food strategy.

"The expansion of Free School Meals is supported by the overwhelming majority of people in the UK - regardless of how they vote.

"We all know that feeding our children well, whatever their background is not rocket science,  it is about priorities and today the government put children first." 

Today's announcement is important because provision of Free School meals in England was falling behind Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A restrictive earnings threshold of £7,400 per year (not including benefits, after tax), means 900,000 children living in poverty have been missing out.

Our updated Superpowers of Free School Meals report highlighted evidence showing exactly why every child, no matter where they live, should have the same opportunity to access and enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food.

Anti poverty campaigner and chef Tom Kerridge, who has supported the Feed the Future campaign, said: "This is a fantastic step forward! Making Free School Meals available to every child on Universal Credit is not just the right thing to do - it’s a game-changer.

"It means fewer kids going hungry and less pressure on struggling families.

"It’s about giving every child the best start in life, no matter their background. I’m incredibly proud to see this happen and hopeful about the positive, lasting impact it will have across communities."

Chef and writer Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, who has also supported our campaign, said: "Expanding Free School Meals to all kids from families on Universal Credit is a brilliant and bold move from this Government.

"It will help children living in poverty to eat better at school and do better in the classroom, and will be hugely helpful to their mums, dads and carers in managing their household budgets.

"It’s also a very welcome step towards a truly visionary Child Poverty Strategy that could lift the most struggling families away from constant worries about their finances and futures.

"Credit where credit is due, our prime minister and education secretary both deserve a massive cheer for this one."

 From day one, the Food Ambassadors have played a central role in our Feed the Future campaign. Using their voices and experiences, they have been an unrelenting force, bringing policymakers' attention to the realities of child food poverty.

We are incredibly thankful to all of the Food Ambassadors, who as experts by experience of food insecurity, have shared their stories and provided solutions to improve children's futures.

Ambassadors at our Superpowers of Free School Meals event in 2022

Sometimes it can feel as if their voices go unheard. Today is different. They have finally been listened to and we hope all citizens can see the power their voices have.

We'd like to thank each and every one of the adult and young Food Ambassadors we have worked with over the years for sharing their experiences relating to school meals and their unwavering commitment to this cause.

Food Ambassador and university student, Dev Sharma, from Leicester, said: "Today, justice is finally on the menu.

"This is a long overdue victory for young people and for everyone who believes in no child going hungry at school.

"After seven years of campaigning, the government’s decision to extend Free School Meals to all young people on Universal Credit feels powerful and emotional. But it is more than a policy change, it’s a lifeline.

"No child should be expected to learn on an empty stomach. Hunger doesn’t just hurt. It holds young people back. It affects energy, focus, attendance, mental health and physical growth. You can’t level up a country if you’re leaving kids to power through lessons on empty plates.

"But this wasn’t just about stats or studies. It was about real lives. I’ve seen friends come to school hungry. I’ve seen the embarrassment of quietly avoiding the lunch queue or pretending you’re not hungry when your stomach says otherwise.

"And I’ve seen how one hot, healthy meal can flip the day around, lifting confidence, focus and even friendships. Food is health AND wealth. And until now, too many were shut out of it.

"This decision is proof that campaigning works. We’ve spoken in Parliament, marched, written, shared our personal stories, demanded action and finally, we’ve been heard.

"It’s proof that sustained campaigning works. That when people speak with clarity and courage, change can follow, even if it takes years.

"Let’s be clear: this is the bare minimum in a country where 4 million children live in poverty. But it’s a powerful start. A healthier, fairer future begins with full stomachs and open minds.

"After years of fighting, we’ve won something that should never have been a fight in the first place."

Young Food Ambassador and student, Asha, from Cumbria, said: "I have been tirelessly fighting this battle since I was 12 years-old. Almost seven years on and we’ve made another huge leap forward.

"The impact this will have on so many families is enormous and my heart is swelling with pride.

"I only wish it had come sooner. Today is a day to celebrate the incredible achievements we’ve made now, and over the years, but also a day to say- ‘what can we accomplish next?’"