Families across Stockport will be delivered a lifeline from this Tuesday as Stockport Labour’s expansion of free school meals gets underway.
From Tuesday 21st June, families who receive Council Tax Support, housing benefit or both – but whose children are not eligible to receive free school meals – will receive a letter outlining that they are now eligible for free school meals for the next year.
The £1.8 million scheme will see 3,362 of Stockport’s young people aged 7-18 being able to eat in school or college for the next year without having to worry about paying. The support is worth around £500 per year for every eligible young person.
Parents who receive a letter will be asked to complete a short online form before schools and colleges break up for summer holidays. From there, those eligible will start receiving their free meals when they go back in September. Telephone support provided by the council will also be available to help eligible families take up the offer.
This scheme is due to Stockport Labour’s work on providing meaningful support to families who need it most during this cost-of-living crisis.
Stockport Labour proposed the expansion, time limited to cover the 2023-24 school year, back in January, which was then included in February’s council budget.
The scheme is being paid for through money that was returned to the council, meaning it doesn’t take existing funding away from council services or impact on council taxpayers.
On the launch of the scheme Councillor Christine Carrigan, who proposed the original motion said:
“I’d like to thank the Council staff that have helped with this, I’m absolutely delighted that after months of work, our proposal to expand free school meals is finally becoming a reality. As Labour councillors, we didn’t get elected to sit back and watch hard-pressed families struggle we came here to support and try and improve people’s lives.
“This expansion of free school meals will help do that. It provides real support to families that depend on Council Tax Support, housing benefit or both but, perversely, don’t currently qualify for free school meals.
The leader of Stockport Labour Group, Cllr David Meller, added:
“We’ve led and delivered this despite being in opposition on this council. The Liberal Democrats wanted to solely blame the government, but they had the means to help. It took us to stand-up for those families that need help right now. Where we led, they followed. I encourage everyone that is eligible to register as soon as possible”
“Over the next year, we’ll continue to provide the leadership Stockport needs. We’ll focus on ensuring this council supports those who need it most, as well as getting the basic services the council offers right. We’ll also monitor the success of this scheme and consider how it has improved the lives of families and young people.”