Stigma hits take-up of free meals [Independent.ie]
- Published: 16 March 2011
More than 20,000 children in Northern Ireland are missing out on their entitlement to free school meals, many due to fear of being teased, a report has warned.
Around one in five - 12,700 - of the 58,000 pupils signed up for the provision do not take it up, while an estimated 8,000 children who may be eligible have not been registered by their parents or guardians.
The government currently provides around £36 million a year for free school meals to low income families.
The findings were outlined in an Audit Office report on how healthy eating is promoted in the region's schools.
"A key barrier which is unique to inhibiting the uptake of free school meals is the fear of stigmatisation," the report said.
"Research by Child Poverty Action Group found that one third of children and two-fifths of parents indicated that embarrassment or fear of being teased is a key factor preventing children taking up their free school meals."
Auditors suggested adoption of cashless payment systems was one method of overcoming this barrier.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
