Leyland man pushing Government for free school meals for all primary children
Jake Hartley relied on his school meals growing up with 9 siblings
A man from Lancashire who relied on his school dinner as his only guaranteed meal as a child is joining a charity's campaign for free school lunches for all primary school children.
22 year old Jake Hartley is presenting a 32,000-signature petition with Barnardo's CEO Lynn Perry to Downing Street, urging the government to expand the current scheme, which offers free lunches only to reception and years 1 and 2 pupils or primary school students from households earning less than £7,400 annually.
Jake, who grew up with nine siblings, recollects that his school canteen's hot meal was frequently his sole source of sustenance.
According to Barnardo's, approximately 800,000 children in poverty are excluded from the current initiative.
Scotland and Wales have already committed to providing free meals for primary school children, though the policy has yet to be fully implemented in either country.