Over 103,000 college students who are eligible for free school meals are missing out on them each year at a cost of over £38 million pounds. While there are three times as many college students eligible for free meals compared to sixth form students, only the sixth form students receive them. Several MPs support extending free meal provision to college students as well, arguing that denying free meals to disadvantaged students hurts social mobility and is unfair.

2. 103,000 students are
missing out on a
free lunch each year.
There are 3 times as
many students at
Colleges eligible for a
That is free meal than at
school sixth forms.
20 million lunches
a year.
Estimated cost of extending this provision: £38
million

3. ‘This flagrant disparity means that
students are missing meals because of
the educational path they have taken.’
– Rt Hon David
Blunkett MP

4. MPs
backing the
campaign

5. ‘I fully support the campaign and
hope that this issue can be resolved as
soon as possible.’
– Robert Halfon MP, Conservative
‘I will be campaigning on this in
partnership with our local
Colleges to ensure that everyone is
given a fair chance.’
– Ian Swales MP, Lib Dem

6. No Free Lunch? endorsers

7. MPs
backing the
campaign

8. ‘Failing to provide a free meal for
disadvantaged students is an obstacle to social
mobility and utterly unfair.’
– Nic Dakin MP

9. For more information speak to:
Piran Dhillon
AoC Public Affairs Officer