Open Letter to Scotland’s Council Leaders

This morning an open letter has been sent by our Chief Executive, SallyAnn Kelly, to Council Leaders. It urges them to work with headteachers and schools in their areas to write off any outstanding school meal debt and to give some relief to those families who are in deep financial crisis.

Earlier this year we published a report which found that more than £1m in school meal debt is owed by low-income working families across Scotland. These families are not eligible for free school meals.

Families tell us they simply can’t absorb any more costs as they fall deeper and deeper into debt trying to make ends meet. Reducing the debt burden for those with school meal debts and supporting them to make sure their children do not go hungry at school would help alleviate some of the financial pressure for thousands of families across Scotland.

We continue to call on Scottish Government to maximise eligibility for free school meals for low income working families with immediate effect. We know Councils can’t do this themselves but they can help by writing off the school meal debt.

Read our open letter here