Universal Free School Meals initiative extended to 2025
BD Group will continue providing Free Schools Meals to the borough's school children following the recent announcement by the Mayor of London to extend the Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) initiative to 2025.
Since it was introduced in 2023, UFSM has funded 17 million meals to around 287,000 of the capital’s primary school children (in state funded schools), with BDT successfully delivering circa 16,000 plus meals (a day) to children in Barking and Dagenham alone.
The extension is expected to save families up to £1,000 per child across the two academic years and will be a welcome boost during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Donna Thacker, Acting Operations Director of BD Together, the catering arm of the Group, said: “This is such good news for children and families in the borough. Free school meals are a lifeline for many families struggling to make ends meet and we’re delighted we can continue supporting families in our local community”.