Thousands of migrant children at risk of hunger without free school meals charities warn Government

13 August 2020

Today a group of 60 organisations have written to the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, calling on him to prevent children from going hungry by permanently extending free school meals to pupils from low-income migrant families with no recourse to public funds…

Immigration solicitor Vanessa Ganguin told The London Economic that there are many families still discriminated against by the policy, as the concession covers a narrow range categories and many low income migrant children are still missing out on free school meals.

“No children should be going hungry,” said Vanessa Ganguin. “I’m sure Marcus Rashford and everyone who campaigned successfully for kids to be fed properly during the pandemic weren’t thinking certain children should be scapegoated due to where their parents were born and their immigration status.” She said many believe it is discriminatory not to allow lower income NRPF children to enjoy free school meals permanently.