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Glasgow Metropolis Council has unanimously voted in favour of scrapping college meal money owed within the metropolis’s colleges.
It’s hoped the measure will assist households who’re battling the price of dwelling disaster.
The transfer, which is able to price an estimated £300,000, can be lined by council reserves.
Schooling convener Christina Cannon mentioned there was proof many youngsters had been going hungry as households struggled with price of dwelling pressures.
Ms Cannon mentioned the transfer could be particularly useful for households who might not be eligible without spending a dime meals however are “simply coping”.
A survey printed by the Scottish authorities final month urged that just about 60% of pupils generally went to mattress or college hungry, whereas 3% mentioned they at all times went to mattress hungry.
“The stark actuality is that youngsters and younger persons are coming to highschool or going to mattress hungry – pupils informed us this in our current well being and wellbeing survey and in 2023 no little one or younger individual will go hungry in our colleges,” Ms Cannon added
“Our households deserve higher and that’s the reason we are going to do all the pieces in our energy to ship for Glasgow’s youngsters and younger individuals.”
In addition to wiping of the present debt, councillors are asking for an replace to highschool meal debt coverage within the metropolis which is able to guarantee no little one is turned away if they don’t have the means to pay for a college meal.
Feed the Weans marketing campaign
In 2019, there have been greater than 41,000 pupils attending major colleges within the metropolis.
College lunches are at the moment free in Scotland for all pupils in council colleges in major 1-5 lessons, saving mother and father about £9.50 per week.
The Scottish authorities had been planning to increase this to all P6 and P7 pupils however this has been delayed.
Kids from low earnings households could also be eligible without spending a dime lunches in school.
A marketing campaign – Feed the Weans – was launched earlier this month, with activists from the commerce union Unite, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Collectively Towards Debt calling for an finish to means-based entitlement.
Unite senior organiser Joe Rollin mentioned the extent of meals poverty in Glasgow was “completely shameful” and the council’s transfer could be “a extremely important step ahead for households”.
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