Massive financial boost for families of more than 2,000 Birmingham children as council plans simple change

Birmingham City Council is working on an “important” change that could see more than 2,000 more children given free school meals. Child poverty is one of the most pressing and challenging issues facing Birmingham with tens of thousands of kids affected across the city.

The consequences of living in poverty are profound, touching many aspects of the lives of the city’s poorer children - from housing and health to educational achievement. In Birmingham, there have been calls for radical change as a government taskforce begins its work, with ministers Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall both describing child poverty as a “scar on our society”.

Council leader John Cotton confirmed on Tuesday, November 5, that plans were being worked on to auto-enrol Birmingham children who are eligible for free school meals but were currently not taking them up. According to the Labour-run council, families who qualify for free school meals usually have to register their children to get a meal, even if they meet the criteria.

READ MORE: The scandalous truth about Birmingham's child poverty emergency laid bare

But it said some eligible families did not sign up because of language barriers; not understanding the criteria or because of a stigma around sharing financial information. Speaking at a meeting of the full council yesterday, Coun Cotton said: “This is a really important move that will tackle term-time hunger for many children.

“Our analysis also shows auto-enrolment in Birmingham would immediately benefit over 2,300 children from the poorest households across the city, who will then be able to receive a free meal at school". On the benefits the move could provide, he continued: “It will make a huge difference to struggling families across Birmingham if we cut the red tape, reduce stigma and make it easier for children in this city to access the healthy, nutritious food that they need.

“First and foremost hundreds more children across Birmingham will enjoy a free healthy meal each day. Parents and carers will save a lot of money as a result of that, especially those with multiple eligible children.

“Auto-enrolment also provides one less thing for families to worry about who are already under a lot of stress". He added: “This move will also provide a boost for schools, increasing the pupil premium to help fund initiatives that support children.”

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.

He said the new Labour government was determined to tackle child poverty and praised the Chancellor’s decision to extend the Household Support Fund until March 2026 in last week’s budget.

“This will make a huge difference to tens of thousands of children across the country,” he said. “Certainly working with our government and our regional mayor, we will do everything that we can in this city to end child poverty and hunger.”