Thousands of children in the North West can’t access free school meals due to not meeting the criteria to be eligible.
It’s all been revealed as part of a shocking new study.
The new analysis, which has been carried out by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA), has discovered that every North West local authority has at least 1,500 school-aged children in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals because the qualifying criteria for them is “so restrictive”.
Here in Greater Manchester alone, every one of our region’s 10 boroughs has more than 3,000 children unable to access the crucial service.
Manchester is the local Council with the highest number, at 10,500 eligible children.
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Thousands of North West children can’t get free school meals due to ‘restrictive’ criteria / gov.uk
The next highest borough is Bolton at 5,500, with Oldham following close behind at 5,000, and Salford, Rochdale, and Wigan following that at 4,000, while at the other end of the spectrum, Stockport and Bury are the boroughs with the lowest number at 3,000.
These disheartening statistics – which have been published in a full report this week – is exactly why researchers are urging local leaders to do all they can to ensure more little Mancs can get free lunches during school hours.
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While the report does highlight examples of local action being taken in the North West to increase access for families, it then crucially goes on to encouraging local leaders join national calls for expansion of free school meal entitlement.
However, researchers have conceded that it’s not just down to local Councils to make changes.
🚀 NOW LIVE: 'Free school meals in the North West'.
This report shows that every North West local authority has at least 1,500 school-age children in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals because the qualifying criteria is so restrictive.
“The responsibility ultimately lies with the UK Government to expand provision of free school meals across the country to tackle classroom hunger,” CPAG and GMPA states in the report.
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Reflecting on the findings of the new analysis, and calling on the Government to do more, Graham Whitham, who is the CEO at GMPA, commented: “Child poverty rates have been rising in the North West for a number of years, and families across the region have been hit hard by soaring living costs.
“At a time when every penny counts, it cannot be right that 100,000 North West kids in poverty can’t claim free school meals.
“Low-income families are under immense financial pressure at the moment, and introducing universal free school meals would mean they have that bit extra to spend on other bills and household essentials.
“It would also improve their children’s nutrition, ultimately helping them to learn, engage and thrive.”
Featured Image – gov.uk
News
Andy Burnham announces five more ‘everyday fixes’ to make life easier for Brits ahead of Budget
Emily Sergeant
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, five more ‘everyday fixes’ have been announced in a bid to make life easier for millions of Brits.
Since becoming Prime Minister this summer, Andy Burnham has been rolling out a series of what he’s dubbed ‘everyday fixes’ as the cost of living crisis continues to make itself known nationwide – and now, with the Autumn Budget coming up today (28 October 2026), he has announced five more of these measures.
Unveiled by the Chancellor, the ‘fixes’ will support people with the cost of food, fuel, and family life, all to provide breathing space for households.
The package will tackle costs people face every day – from doing the weekly shop, to supporting people who rely on their cars for work, while extending support to new parents, and fixing an ‘unfair cliff edge’ that can penalise unpaid carers for earning more.
So, what are these ‘everyday fixes’ then? Here’s everything you need to know.
First up, it has been announced that the Government will be making higher tax-free mileage rates permanent, increasing support for millions of nurses, care workers, self employed builders, and others who drive for work along the way.
They will also be extending parental pay to more than 150,000 additional parents per year, including self-employed dads and partners who have previously missed out, which will give those eligible two weeks of support (currently worth up to £194 a week) so they can spend more time with their child.
The so-called Carer’s Allowance ‘cliff edge’ will also be coming to an end, so unpaid carers no longer lose their entire allowance simply for earning a penny over the Weekly Earnings Limit.
Andy Burnham has announced five more ‘everyday fixes’ to make life easier for Brits / Credit: Number 10 Downing Street | Aldi
Import tariffs will be removed on more than 100 products – including baked beans, chocolate, and gherkins – which, together with the tariff suspensions already introduced, means households could save up to £21 on their food shop each year.
And finally, hundreds more Post Office drop boxes are set to be rolled out in a bid to make it ‘easier’ and ‘more convenient’ for people to send and return parcels without having to queue at a Post Office counter.
“We are taking on the big challenges facing the country,” explained Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a statement ahead of the Budget. “But that doesn’t mean losing sight of the everyday problems that cost people money or simply aren’t fair.
“And at Wednesday’s Budget, we’ll go further to give families and businesses the breathing space they need today, while we build a stronger economy, transform our country and bring down cost for people long-term.”
Featured Image – Aldi
News
Met Office gives verdict on how Storm Boelo aftermath will affect Greater Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Storm Boelo is finally on his way out, and now the Met Office has given its verdict on what we can expect from the rest of the week.
In the aftermath of two successive storms, Storm Austen followed by Storm Boelo – the latter of which affected Greater Manchester – the UK is now able to begin recovering from the effects of the adverse weather.
But the Met Office has warned that, although there is no named storm, strong winds and heavy rain will continue to affect parts of the UK early this week, before high pressure brings calmer conditions.
Yellow national severe weather warnings are in place for parts of Scotland and western areas of the UK today (Tuesday 27 October), including areas of the North West, as gales and spells of rain bring the potential for ongoing disruption around the region, particularly on exposed coasts and higher ground.
“The continued winds could hamper recovery efforts in some places,” forecasters also unfortunately confirmed.
⚠️ Strong winds and heavy rain continue across parts of the UK early this week with a yellow weather warning in place, before high pressure brings calmer conditions for many from Wednesday ⛅
Read our news release to find out more 👇
https://t.co/EQU4vvaA3B https://t.co/hpvTd8v7EZ
As rest of the week pans out though, conditions will begin to settle down and showers are expected to become ‘less frequent’, while winds also ease for most, although gales could continue for a time in the far north.
Thursday is expected be ‘largely dry’ with lighter winds and variable cloud, with a touch of mist and fog likely across parts of England and Wales during the morning.
From Friday and into the weekend, light rain will team up to potentially affect northwestern areas of England, but for the most part, temperatures are expected to remain close to, or slightly above, average for the time of year.
“From Wednesday, high pressure will start to build which will ease the winds and bring a quieter and largely drier end to the week for many, although some rain is still possible in the North and West,” explained Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steven Keates.
“However, with wind warnings in place, those in warnings areas, particularly in northern Scotland and western high ground, continue to be exposed to strong winds and heavy rain before the more settled weather arrives.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th February 2024 
