Two pupils left secret letters on Humza Yousaf’s desk in the Scottish Parliament – urging him to support their campaign for free school meals. Rosie McAllister, 11, and Ava Young, 12, were at a Sunday Mail-sponsored event demanding the First Minister extend food provision amid fears thousands of children are going hungry in class.
Teachers, trade unions, public health experts and even the Scottish Government’s own outgoing Children and Young People’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson have called for urgent action.
Primary one to five pupils already receive free meals but Yousaf is under pressure to make good on a vow to extend that to primary six and seven, as well as running a pilot in secondaries. And if he needed a further reminder of how important this is to children, he will have got it on finding the letters from Rosie and Ava, both pupils at Woodlands Primary in Irvine, Ayrshire.
Rosie said: “It was exciting coming to parliament and we just wanted to let the First Minister know how important we think it is to give all children free meals in school. It would be a way of making sure all pupils are healthy and happy and it would be a really good thing for him to do.”
Hundreds of politicians, campaigners and children attended the universal free school meals Holyrood event on May 11. It was organised by the STUC, who have warned thousands of children have been plunged into poverty by the cost-of-living crisis.
Louise McPhater, a manager at the Vineburgh Community Centre in Irvine where Rosie and Ava attend a drama class, said: “It was brilliant for all the children to come through to the Scottish Parliament – they were so excited and they loved the whole experience.
“Rosie and Ava were keen to get involved and, when they were shown around the debating chamber, they decided to leave a letter for the First Minister on his desk. It was just a bit of fun but there is a really serious message behind this. Teachers and children can see first-hand in schools that many families are really struggling.
“Free school meals would be a great way of making sure every pupil, irrespective of their family background, are not in school struggling through hunger.
“I really hope Humza Yousaf reads the letters left for him and takes them on board and takes action on this. If he wants to tackle poverty, this is the perfect way to do it.”
Yousaf has announced extra funding for after-school clubs in a bid to cut spiralling child poverty rates. However, he has been accused of flip-flopping on promises to deliver extended free school meals.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “There is no justification for uncertainty and further delays to the full rollout of universal free school meals right through to the end of secondary school. This should be a government priority.”
Yousaf did not respond to a request for comment but Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Scotland already has the most
generous universal free school meal provision of anywhere in the UK.”
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