[Geo4All] Open Letter requesting UK Government to urgently take steps to provide Free School Meals to all students in all UK schools

Sat May 18 06:55:43 PDT 2024

Dear colleagues

I came across these articles which might be of interest.

Fund to wipe school meal debt opened in Scotland

Details at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9l9e7l2v7o

Equality Trust Releases Cost of Inequality Report

What does inequality cost the UK?

£128.4 Billion each year

Details at https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-releases-cost-inequality-report

What’s the impact of the UK’s inequality?

https://nottherichlist.co.uk/whats-the-impact-of-the-uks-inequality/

What if the richest used their wealth for the common good? Presented by The Equality Trust.

Details at https://nottherichlist.co.uk/

I have a query on the urgent issue of providing Free School Meals in the UK (including during holidays). According to the UK House of Commons library article,    In 2021/22 there were 4.7 million people, or 7% of the UK population, in food poverty, including 12% of children. In 2022/23, the Trussell Trust, a charity and network of foodbanks, supplied the highest recorded number of three-day emergency food parcels.

More details on the article “Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals” . This paper provides statistics on household food insecurity, food bank usage and free school meals in the UK, and tracks the impact of rising living costs.

Details at https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9209/

Came across these articles on plans for tax cuts for the Billionaires

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67448602

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/20/richest-1-account-for-more-carbon-emissions-than-poorest-66-report-says

What is the logic of tax cuts for the Billionaires when the UK government says that they cannot afford universal free school meals during holidays? I do not have any knowledge in economics , so my apologies for my ignorance on this.

I fully support the idea of universal free school meals . I request the UK government to urgently take steps to  make provision of Free School Meals to all students (till Year 13) in all UK schools.

I request the UK Government to introduce a new wealth tax for all UK Billionaires to fund this. Even a 1 percent wealth tax on UK Billionaires wealth (£600bn) will generate 6 Billion pounds! This Billionaire wealth tax funding will help easily make possible  Free School Meals to  all students (till Year 13) in all UK schools.

It is unfair that a few billionaires are able to accrue such a staggering amount of the nation’s wealth when more than 4.3 million children are living in poverty in the UK. I request the kind support of all UK Political parties and UK Government to help make possible Free School Meals to all students (till Year 13) in all UK schools.

I am grateful to everyone working for education opportunities for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

________________________________
From: Suchith Anand <Suchith.Anand at nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: 12 May 2024 07:57
Subject: Thank you to UCAS for waiving the application fee for students in receipt of free school meals

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for the launching new initiatives to encourage students from low-income families to apply for university. The total number of young people eligible for free school meals is growing but this group's entry rate is at its lowest level since 2019.

I am grateful to UCAS for waiving the university application fee for students in receipt of free school meals.

Details at https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/ucas-announces-new-initiatives-encourage-students-low-income-families-apply-university

This is a great initiative from UCAS to support students from low-income families discovering and applying to higher education. I thank all UCAS colleagues for their kindness and timely help.

I would like to thank Universities UK for launching the campaign supporting first generation students. First generation students are more likely to be from low-income backgrounds.

Universities UK is calling for the UK Government to:

  *   Reinstate maintenance grants in England for those who need them most to ensure future students have the same opportunities as those of previous generations.
  *   Correct maintenance loans to reflect real rates of inflation and adjust the household income threshold, which has been frozen since 2008.

I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full scholarships for students from low-income families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.

Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

________________________________
From: Suchith Anand <Suchith.Anand at nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: 06 May 2024 20:25
Subject: Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024 - Please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students

Dear colleagues,

Social Mobility Day exists to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.

Social mobility creates a more equal and fair society. Where opportunities to excel and achieve are available to everyone, regardless of where they started out in life. The aim of this day is to improve awareness of what social mobility is, why it is important, and how organisations can take action.

Details at https://socialmobilityday.com/

On this year’s Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024, I would like to request all to please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students.

I would like to thank Universities UK for launching the campaign supporting first generation students. First generation students are more likely to be from low-income backgrounds.

Universities UK is calling for the UK Government to:

  *
Reinstate maintenance grants in England for those who need them most to ensure future students have the same opportunities as those of previous generations.

  *
Correct maintenance loans to reflect real rates of inflation and adjust the household income threshold, which has been frozen since 2008.

Details at https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/

https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/stats-behind-the-stories

https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/supporting-first-gen-students

I have been working and championing over a decade to provide more number of full scholarships in UK universities for UK students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to university) in the UK.

I humbly request the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.3 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There is a need for focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.

Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/

Poverty: facts and figures

4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

Child poverty is high in the UK, and is projected to rise further.

Details at  https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures

Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9209/CBP-9209.pdf

This report Billionaire Britain 2022: Inequality from the top down published by Equality Trust might be of interest. Details at  https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth

I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full scholarships for students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.

Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy at the University of Exeter | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate

Email - S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk<mailto:S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk>

https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/staff/anand/

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org

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