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I've just been on @bbc5live at 10am saying why families should get a direct cash payment as their free school meal replacement. I had only a brief time so couldn't say much. Here are some reasons:
1/ the sole criterion for free school meals eligibility is low income. The best way to counter low income is to provide money.
2/ Poverty does not equal drug/alcohol abuse, child abuse or child neglect, feckless parenting or poor budgetary judgements. Poverty equals insufficient resources.
Providing money affords families dignity, respect and choice.
Providing money allows for special diets to be catered for, whether it's for reasons relating to religion, culture, allergies, health or vegetarianism (for example).
Providing money allows for special diets to be catered for, whether it's for reasons relating to religion, culture, allergies, health or vegetarianism (for example).
Providing money directly to families saves money on companies producing food parcels.
It saves money on delivery costs of food parcels.
It saves carbon on these delivery methods.
It saves money on delivery costs of food parcels.
It saves carbon on these delivery methods.
It has not been easy for families to collect food parcels. Given the very strong relationship between ill health, disability and poverty, many families have someone shielding or health compromised at home. They can't go collect food.
It is stigmatising to make children (or their parents) go and collect food. This also opens the children up to shame, embarrassment, being revealed as being 'poor' or worse, bullying. That's why collecting food from schools worked so badly during the first lockdown.
Where there are families (and there obviously will be) for whom a direct cash payment is not in the best interests of the child's welfare, then a supermarket voucher or a food delivery might be most appropriate. However,
I would hope families who do have these complex needs are known to schools and local authorities and are receiving support and services already.
