Hucknall Councillor: Child hunger problem more widespread in Ashfield than the near 5000 pupils claiming free school meals

Hundreds of families in Hucknall and across Ashfield are missing out on free school meals because the criteria are "too strict" claim Ashfield Independent councillors. 

Now, councillors from the party are leading the call for all Universal Credit claimants to be given free school meals.

There are currently 4,869 pupils out of 17,935 school pupils claiming free school meals in Ashfield, which equates to 27.1 per cent. 

Councillor Dave Shaw, a member of the Children and Young People's Select Committee and County Councillor for Hucknall West, says the problem of child hunger is more widespread. 

As a result, he has backed calls from his Independent opposition group at County Hall to investigate helping those who "…just lose out but are still going hungry."

Councillor Shaw said: "I fully back the Independent call in County Hall for us to do our bit to end child poverty by raising the bar to claim free school meals. 

"There are pupils in Hucknall who just fall outside the safety net offered by free school meals. In our town, this runs into the hundreds, and it is unacceptable in this day and age – that many parents go hungry just to feed their kids. 

"By increasing eligibility including all Universal Credit claimants – we will be able to feed hundreds more starving children. This is the right thing to do and I feel Nottinghamshire County (Council) can use its influence to change the law and feed more of Hucknall's hungry children."

Government rules restrict free school meals to those families with net annual earnings of less than £7,400.

Councillor Debbie Darby, the spokesperson for the Independent Alliance at County Hall has called for the County Council's Children and Young People Select Committee to investigate. 

Speaking at their first ever meeting, she said: "Thousands more children in poverty are missing out than figures suggest. Many don't qualify for free school meals, because the criteria are too strict – that doesn't mean that kids are not hungry.

"Being a free school meal claimant unlocks a significant amount of other free services like holiday activities. We have heard stories of starving children begging for free school meals because they are hungry. Can we carry out an investigation in what we can do to help young people not just on free school meals but all those whose families are on Universal Credit and other benefits? Can we as a committee look at changing the eligibility criteria to unlock things like free holidays for those who live in real poverty?"

The next full council meeting takes place a week tomorrow (Thursday 7 July).