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  • Co-op agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid promised that all primary school kids will have access to free school meals. 

  • But an influential Welsh think-tank has said that families cannot afford for the pledge to be delayed.

  • The cost of living crisis has made free school meals a pressing need as household bills continue to skyrocket.

Image by Tom Davies

Wales’ leading anti-poverty think tank, the Bevan Foundation, has called for action to ensure that all children in Wales are provided with free school meals as quickly as possible.

The Bevan Foundation has identified several barriers that might stop the plans from going forward and pressured Mark Drakeford’s government to quicken delivery plans due to the cost of living squeeze, citing their concerns in a report released today.

The radical think-tank welcomed the commitment made in the Co-operation Agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru to provide Free School Meals to all primary school children but has said more is needed to actually enact the proposed changes by this coming September. 

Dr Steffan Evans, Head of Policy for the Bevan Foundation, said: “It is crucial that the Welsh Government provides schools and local authorities with enough flexibility to ensure that all children benefit from the roll-out of universal primary school meals this September.”

The report identified three major problems to overcome: physical capacity of school dining facilities and pressures on staffing. Stresses due to global and local supply chain issues could also affect the cost of such plans but are not a signal to end the plans.

The escalating cost of living crisis means that the need to implement the co-op commitment rapidly has never been greater.

Reacting to its findings, Sarah Rees, Head of Oxfam Cymru said: “With the cost of living soaring, it is welcome to see political parties in Wales working together to protect vulnerable children from the long term impact of poverty.”

“Life for families is only getting harder, so any steps taken as part of the Free School Meals strategy to provide a safety net for those who need this meal most is vital.” The report was funded in part by Oxfam Cymru.

Creative thinking is needed to meet the demand on services that are sure to escalate in line with the cost of living crisis making Welsh families tighten their belts, they said. 

Dr Evans continued: “We know many local authorities are already looking at innovative solutions. This includes the provision of healthy cold food. Such approaches should be encouraged in the short term whilst steps are taken to increase capacity within schools.”

voice.wales has been covering the ongoing cost-of-living protests and the community response to the crisis affecting millions. On Saturday in Cardiff, a further protest was held by the People’s Assembly coalition and backed by Wales’ biggest trade unions who joined the demonstration. 

Speaking at the protest,  Dominic MacAskill, head of bargaining and campaigns for UNISON, said that some of the union’s members were already having to use foodbanks to feed their families even though they are working. “We need a solution to this crisis,” he said. “It’s a crisis that politicians can solve and that’s why we’re here to protest.” 

Heledd Fychan, Plaid MS for South Wales Central, recently wrote a comment piece to condemn the crushing rise in the cost of living and lambast energy companies for hiking household prices whilst raking in massive profits.

Dr Evans from the Bevan Foundation continued: “It is crucial that the Welsh Government works with local authorities to ensure that families will not have to make an additional application to access universal school meals. All our focus should be on providing school meals to as many children as possible, not creating new paperwork that will deter families and put pressure on local authorities.”

The full report can be read on the Bevan Foundation website.