Talking about how the 2024 General Election will impact school meals

Join host Cally Ip and co-host Gavin Squires to discuss how the 2024 General Election will impact school meals.

We are joined by industry greats Dr Andy Kemp MBE and Patricia Fellows MBE to breakdown the current scene of school catering and discuss the impact of politics on school meal funding. We talk about the current struggles of school catering, discuss the idea of expanding Universal Infant Free School Meals, and share what the next elected government can do ensure every child is fed a nutritious hot meal.

This is a key topic which will impact the next generation and our speakers have a lot of vital insight to share with the future parliamentary leaders as well as members of foodservice around this important topic.

Participants

Host: Cally Ip
Co-host: Gavin Squires
Guest: Dr Andy Kemp MBE
Guest: Patricia Fellows MBE

Take a listen.

Timestamp 4:19

It has become more of a challenge to cater for schools especially over the last few years, but what would you say has been the main causes of this difficulty?

Timestamp 5:26

Gavin, you’re out and about with our education customers every day. What do you see schools struggling with the most?

Timestamp 10:38

To give an idea of how wide this problem is in the UK, how many children benefit from Universal Infant Free School Meals at the moment and how many are actually utilising free school meals? 

Timestamp 11:25

A massive issue is also the under-funding of school meals by the government. Andy, could you tell us a bit more about that?

Timestamp: 14:04 

Am I right to say that a lot of schools don’t delegate the full funding to school catering?

Timestamp 16:02

Is it true that there a lot of families who are not on the free school meals programme, but their families are heading towards struggling to afford school meals?

Timestamp 17:28

What can the next elected government do about school catering?

Timestamp 20:30

If the government don’t increase funding for school meals, what would happen?

Timestamp 23:09

If you had one key message to get across to the leaders and parliamentary candidates, what wold it be?