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Council to roll out free school meals scheme in Dundee next week

Leader of Dundee City Council, John Alexander.
Leader of Dundee City Council, John Alexander.

Dundee City Council have announced a free school meals scheme while pupils remain at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The city-wide scheme will cover 6,892 children when it launches next week.

The initiative is set to cost more than a million pounds to roll out across the city, as payments will be backdated until March 23 – the date the council was unable to provide a normal free school meals service.

A direct weekly payment of £11.25 per child will be paid into the accounts of qualifying families, where the council holds bank details.

If the council does not hold a families bank details and they are eligible, the may receive a text message asking them to contact the council.

If no text is received and they think their child is eligible, the council can be contacted at schoolmeals@dundeecity.gov.uk or call 01382 433458.

All children in a nursery which is part of the additional hours pilot scheme are included and any child in a nursery who would usually receive free school meals.

Of P1-3 pupils, only those who receive a school clothing grant will be eligible. Payments will be made for pupils from P4-S6 based on free school meals entitlement.

Vouchers will be available as a safety net in case bank details for some families cannot be confirmed.

The cost for a 14-week period until the end of term on June 26, or earlier if restrictions are lifted, would be £1,085,490. This will be paid for partly by the council’s share of the Scottish Government Food Fund.

Council leader John Alexander said: “This payment will be a practical help for families to put food on the table during extremely challenging times.

“We know that free school meals have a positive impact for these pupils and we have developed a scheme which is simple and convenient.

“The establishment of Community Support Centres and a food distribution centre show how we are working hard to assist vulnerable people.

“Free school meals also have an important role to play, with these payments making a real difference for families across Dundee.”