The theme for the 2023 LACA Main Event (6-8th July) is #IfNotNow,When? The LACA Main Event will highlight the reluctance of the Government to address the funding and recruitment issues that are putting the service under threat.
Brad Pearce said: “The announcement that the number of children eligible for means-tested Free School Meals (FSM) has increased to more than 2m is reflective of the detrimental impact of the cost-of-living crisis on many children, particularly vulnerable children where a school lunch may be their only hot meal of the day.
"The number of pupils eligible for Universal Free School Meals (UIFSM) has also increased this year to 1.3m. What noticeably hasn't increased is the funding to schools and caterers to provide these meals in the face of the current economic crisis and hyper-food inflation.
“The Government allocated £2.41 is simply no longer enough for school caterers to deliver healthy, freshly prepared school food. The Government must urgently increase funding for school caterers so that we can continue to support children who depend on school lunches so that they do not fall through the cracks.”