May25Free Food in County Durham

A Government-subsidised pilot scheme is to be carried out in County Durham to provide each child with a daily school meal.
 
Gordon Brown said: “Proper nutrition for young children is absolutely crucial, and that is why the pilot project to give primary school children free school meals is being supported by the Government. It will test whether free healthy school meals improve children’s health and well-being.”

The Government is putting £20m into the scheme and additional funding will come from NHS County Durham and the county council.
Mr Brown added: “We believe that it will show that good nutrition at an early age makes a difference not only to health but to educational performance.”

Up to 30,000 children in County Durham could benefit.