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Glasgow City Council wipes school meals debt to help struggling families

31 Mar 2023
Glasgow City Council has agreed to write off school meal debt to support people struggling in the current cost of living crisis.

The Full Council motion proposed by Councillor Christina Cannon, City Convener for Education, Communities & Equalities, SNP and seconded by the Labour Party will see any families' debt cancelled that is over and above the equivalent of one month's worth of meals in line with COSLA guidance.

Councillor Christina Cannon, City Convener for Education has thanked council for the cross-party support and said: "No one is able to escape the effects of the cost of living crisis and we want to do all that we can to ease some pressures we know our families are experiencing.

"This is especially true of our families who are just coping and who don't meet the free school meal eligibility criteria but are facing difficult choices. No pupil in our schools will ever be refused a school meal and by agreeing to wipe school meal debt we are giving our families a bit of respite so that they can choose to use the money on other household bills and ease their worries.

"The stark reality is that children and young people are coming to school or going to bed hungry - pupils told us this in our recent health and wellbeing survey and in 2023 no child or young person will go hungry in our schools. Our families deserve better and that is why we will do everything in our power to deliver for Glasgow's children and young people."