Press release

The Life Channel spreads 'free school meals' message

5 Mar 2010

Short films eradicating any embarrassment associated with free school meals have been developed by The Life Channel in partnership with Education Leeds and Mount St Mary's Catholic High School.

Young people from lower income families are often entitled to a free, healthy school meal every day. Education Leeds recently commissioned research investigating why over 300,000 pupils in the UK and 8,000 in Leeds are not taking up their entitlement. The result showed pupils and parents felt uncomfortable taking their entitlement, whilst others expressed concern about being teased.

Taking part in the project, pupils throughout Leeds worked together to help creatively develop these films, informing fellow students and their parents of their free school meal entitlement.

The films also support the curriculum with lesson plans on Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education to help children and young people to understand the importance of a healthy school meal.

As a national community television network, The Life Channel's reach ensures films will directly engage pupils in more than 1,500 schools, colleges and universities, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of these issues with parents and grandparents watching a tailored version of the network within more than 2,300 UK Doctors' Surgeries.

The Life Channel's Senior Producer, Simon Chappell, said working with children to create these films was a great experience.

"The children approached the task in a very direct and fresh way. The workshops helped them develop media skills, but most importantly gave them an opportunity to think through a real and important message to influence health outcomes of thousands of children," said Chappell.

For more details on free school meal entitlement, parents and carers should contact their school, visit www.leeds.gov.uk (type 'free school meals' into the search bar) or telephone Leeds Benefit & Revenue Services on 0113 2224404.