Free School Meals Reach 100 Million Milestone

A programme providing free lunches to every state primary school pupil in the UK capital has now served 100 million meals, easing costs for hundreds of thousands of families.

“These healthy meals ensure children don’t go hungry, helping them learn and relieving financial pressure on parents,” said Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

Launched in 2023, the £130 million-a-year scheme provides each child with around 435 free lunches annually, saving families up to £500 per child. Extended through the mayor’s term, it complements the national initiative for younger pupils and has become a cornerstone of London’s efforts to promote child health and educational equality.