Benefits and impact
Since introducing Eat for Free, uptake of school meals has seen a huge increase from 49% in 2009 (pre-pilot) to over 90%. We continue to build on the scheme by working with stakeholders including schools, parents, children, Juniper Ventures and other catering providers, as well as other boroughs, charitable organisations and academics to ensure the scheme reaches its potential.
Through Eat for Free, we ensure that a school meal is much more than what is simply on the plate. Families and schools support Eat for Free, and see it as not only an opportunity for children to eat, but also an important social and cultural experience that students enjoy together. The scheme is also a key element of our commitment to support families to have increased food security by ensuring all children, no matter what, can eat a hot, nutritious and filling meal every lunchtime.