MPs renew call for UK to join global coalition committed to feeding children at school
Momentum to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a healthy, nutritious meal in school by 2030 continues to grow.
106 countries are now members of the government-led School Meals Coalition.
The Coalition is an example of a new generation of multilateralism joining forces and working together to improve the quality, sustainability and scale of national school meals programmes.
A motion recognising the value of school meals and calling on the UK to join the School meals Coalition has been tabled in the UK Parliament and has received cross party support.
Momentum to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a healthy, nutritious meal in school by 2030 continues to grow. 105 member states have joined the School Meals Coalition along with a growing number of partners, which is helping to grow the reach and improve the quality of school meals around the world.
Members of Parliament from different parties have this week urged the UK government to join the Coalition.
The Green Party’s spokesperson for international development Dr. Ellie Chowns MP tabled a motion recognising the growing reach of school meal programmes and the role that the School Meals Coalition has played in driving that achievement.
The Early Day Motion further acknowledges the transformative impact that school meals can have on children’s lives and education and welcomes the commitment by the UK Government to expand school breakfast clubs.
"More and more governments are recognising the transformative impact that providing children with a free meal at school can have. The School Meals Coalition is driving that progress, and I really hope the UK will join the Coalition, learning from other countries and supporting the movement to give every child a healthy, free meal at school, every day," said Dr Chowns.
Sharon Hogdson MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on School Food speaking at the launch of the toolkit in the UK Parliament earlier this year.
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food, Sharon Hodgson MP, who co-sponsored the motion said, "I welcome the government's commitment to school breakfast clubs and know that this will make a transformative difference to children's nutrition, development, and learning. We should join the School Meals Coalition, which would allow us to learn from our peers and add to the growing momentum for ensuring children are fed at school."
In April 2024, Ms Hogdson hosted the launch of ‘School meals: A toolkit for parliamentarians’ in the UK parliament and, last year, she wrote to urge the then government to do more to tackle childhood hunger.
Chris Law MP, the Scottish National Party Spokesperson for International Development supported the call saying, "I've seen first hand the benefits for children's learning and development and the pressure it takes off working families of the free school meal programme for all children in years 1 to 5 that the Scottish government has rolled out.
“Every child should have the opportunity to receive a free, healthy meal at school and I urge the UK government to bring that about by joining the School meals Coalition.
“This would enable us to share insights from the free school meal programmes being run in Wales and Scotland, to be inspired by the efforts of others and learn more about how the UK can support the global push to end childhood hunger at school," concluded Mr Law .
The School Meals Coalition is an international initiative aimed at guaranteeing every child the opportunity to receive nutritious meals at school. Membership would provide the UK with an opportunity to both contribute to and benefit from global expertise and practices in improving school food provision.
Parliamentarians are being encouraged to show their support by signing EDM 541 and joining the call for the UK to lead on this vital issue. We hope that taking this step will highlight the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure no child goes hungry during their education.
You can view the full EDM and its signatories here.
