The Ashfield Independents are calling for Hucknall Library to provide more opportunities for unemployed Hucknall residents to retrain as well as more job centre services.

This comes on the back of the scale of child poverty in places like Hucknall and Ashfield being revealed. The figures for claimants of free school meals showed a dramatic rise in North Nottinghamshire. As of July 2021, there are 5244 claimants in the Ashfield District compared to 4187 at the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020.

In Nottinghamshire, there are now 22,294 children who claim free school meals – up from 18,361 in March 2020. The figures cover the 338 state-funded secondary, primary, and special schools in Nottinghamshire.

Speaking at the last full meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor John Wilmott said: "Our job centre on Hucknall High Street closed many years ago. The latest child poverty figures back up my call to diversify and improve services at our library. As well as providing a regular police drop in centre – it could also provide more opportunities for Hucknall residents to re-study to improve their employment chances. The fact that Hucknall residents have to travel to Bulwell to access Job Centre Plus services is, in my opinion wrong. I am pleased that Inspire who run library services on behalf of the County Council are considering my ideas."

Councillor Samantha Deakin, the spokesperson for Children and Young People's issues for the Independent group, said: "These figures highlight the dramatic increase in child poverty since the start of the pandemic. The fact that 1057 more children are claiming free school meals in Hucknall and across Ashfield is deeply concerning. The fact that nearly half of free school meal claimants are from North Nottinghamshire shows the inequalities that continue to exist in our County. Action is needed now."

The increase across all areas of Nottinghamshire follows a campaign by England footballer Marcus Rashford to extend free school meal vouchers into the school holidays.

Councillor Lee Waters who represents Hucknall South said: "Child poverty levels are at the highest for a generation. Areas, especially Hucknall Central, suffer from rising hunger. We have done a lot of work to break the stigma attached to claiming free school meals. In this day and age, no child should go hungry. The Government talk about levelling up the country – we can't even level up our County. I fully back the call to use our assets like Hucknall Library to improve access to training and to access job centre services since the Government closed our centre in Hucknall."