Free school meals: “A small community with lots of affluence can do more”

Tuesday 27 October 2020

The children's rights watchdog and the CEO of a local nutritional charity are pushing to make island-wide free school meals a reality for all children in need in Jersey.

Speaking to Express, Caring Cooks' Melissa Nobrega said that the charity already has an “operational model” in place that could see a programme rolled out across all schools, but that it would require “significant investment” and “commitment” from the Government.

The charity is currently running a pilot scheme called 'Flourish', which sees nutritious hot food cooked off-site and then delivered to Janvrin and Samares Schools, with plans to expand to St. Luke’s in January. Nearly 50% of eligible children are now receiving a free hot school meal, according to Melissa.  

However, while she said the project had been "really successful so far", she said she felt the “Council of Ministers could do more" to get free school meals at all schools onto the agenda, noting that Caring Cooks was "disappointed" that there was no mention of the Flourish scheme in the 2021-2024 Government Plan.

It means that no funding has been budgeted to extend the programme beyond July next year.

Pictured: “Lack of food can adversely affect children’s lives in myriad ways. Anyone who has ever tried to sit through class on an empty stomach will know that. 

Melissa wants to see that change.

"I’m not sure why that’s gone [from the Government Plan], whether it’s cost saving or a refocus on covid and vaccines," she said. “It does need significant investment, and there has to be an ongoing commitment from Government to support free school meals. There’s a lot of money in this island, and if the community pulled together we could identify people, businesses, trusts and foundations to support it.” 

Though she said the project currently has the backing of the “very supportive” Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois, as well as Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department (CYPES) and Public Health, she noted that “it takes 25 people to vote on it.”

She added: “All I can say is we do have the operational model [to scale up free school meals island-wide].

“I do believe it takes a village to raise a child – we are a village in Jersey and could all pull together to make this happen.”  

Pictured: Nearly 50% of children eligible for Caring Cooks' pilot scheme are now having hot school meals. 

Echoing Melissa’s sentiments, Children’s Commissioner Deborah McMillan, who will be meeting with Caring Cooks on 6 November to discuss the matter further, told Express that the debate pointed to a broader issue of poverty on the island.

“It hardly needs stating that a child’s right to food is fundamental to their ongoing survival, health and wellbeing," she commented.

“However, what this current debate around school meals is also highlighting is that poverty in our island still remains hidden and, in many cases, largely unaddressed. 

“Lack of food can adversely affect children’s lives in myriad ways. Anyone who has ever tried to sit through class on an empty stomach will know that. 

“And, while many in the third sector are working hard to tackle these problems, our government also needs to ensure that it is doing everything it can to help.”

There’s over 6,000 kids taking sandwiches to lunch in primary in jersey, but there’s also 000s taking 2 bags of crisps or nothing! @ChildComJersey and Caring Cooks have a meeting soon to discuss this horrendous insecurity under a Children First strategy - it’s really not on

— Caring Cooks (@CaringCooks) October 24, 2020

Melissa also highlighted this wider issue, commenting: “We do feel there is an island-wide blind eye turned to poverty… everyone thinks because we live in such an affluent island there isn’t any food poverty, but there really is.”

She pointed out that schools, as well as groups such as the Salvation Army and Grace Trust, had been providing support through the holidays too, but that their work often went “unnoticed” where “they should be applauded.”

Of poverty on the island overall, she emphasised that “we can’t keep sweeping this under the carpet, it’s only going to get worse”, calling for the public sector, the private sector, and the charity sector to come together in support of those in need. 

“A small community with lots of affluence can do more.” 

Some of that community spirit seems to be spreading this half-term, however.

Mirroring some of the offers from UK establishments after MPs voted against a bid to end food poverty inspired by England footballer Marcus Rashford, St. Helier-based JB’s Brewhouse announced that they would be providing free meals for under-16s who need them from 12:00 to 14:00 between Monday and Friday this week.

In a post on Facebook, the eatery explained: "We in Jersey are lucky, but some are not as lucky as others.

"A lot of us here in Jersey don't think child poverty exists here, but it does!

"This half term a lot of children won't get a meal at school, lots of families depend on this meal for their child especially in these hard times that we are in.

"Here at JB's we would like to do our little bit. It maybe a small gesture but hopefully it will help and hopefully in the future we can do more."