The Bishop of Salford has said he wants to see every primary school pupil offered free meals as a means to tackle child poverty across the region.
His message comes after the government confirmed last year that all children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be able to claim free school meals in September.
Currently, households must earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify for free school meals, but from the start of the new academic year, the income limit will be lifted in a change the government predicts will support 500,000 more pupils.
But Salford Bishop John Arnold has called on Downing Street to go one step further and extend the scheme to all children in primary education across the country, irrespective of their family’s income level.
“A civilised society should never place children in the position of trying to learn while hungry,” the he said in a letter published on the No Child Left Behind campaign website.
He added: “If we are serious about building a society in which every child can flourish, then ensuring that no child goes without a nutritious meal at school must be a shared national priority.
“Extending free school meals to all primary school children would be a clear and hopeful decision – one that reflects both sound public policy and our deepest moral values.”
Bishop Arnold highlighted that in the Diocese of Salford, around 333,000 children are growing up in poverty and noted how that can negatively impact their attainment at school.
“Behind that number are children trying to concentrate in lessons while distracted by hunger, families under constant pressure and schools stepping beyond their traditional role simply to ensure children’s basic needs are met explained.”
He drew on the views of the late Pope Francis, who died in 2025, and urged Christians not to ‘ignore” the challenges faced by families nationwide.
He said Pope Francis, during his pontificate, reminded him that ‘the dignity of each human person and the pursuit of the common good ought to shape all economic policy.’
“As Christians, we cannot ignore this reality. The Gospel consistently reminds us of the special place children hold in the heart of Christ and of our responsibility to care for those who are most vulnerable.
“Catholic Social Teaching speaks clearly of human dignity and the common good, insisting that economic and social decisions must always place the wellbeing of people first.”
Bishop Arnold explained that Caritas, a Catholic Social Action charity based in Salford, are backing the campaign for free school meals for all primary school children.
“A universal approach recognises a simple truth: children should not have to prove hardship before they can eat. Providing meals for all removes stigma, supports families facing fluctuating financial pressures, and ensures every child begins the school day on equal terms with their peers,” he wrote in a letter available in full here.
“Too often, school leaders tell us about families who fall just outside eligibility criteria yet face genuine hardship. Universal provision would remove these barriers and acknowledge that supporting children’s wellbeing benefits the whole of society.
“It would also address one of the most painful aspects of poverty — the sense of embarrassment or exclusion that some children experience. No child should feel singled out in a school dining hall or avoid eating because they fear being identified as different. When meals are shared by all, dignity is protected and community is strengthened.
“Free School Meals for All represents a practical and compassionate step towards that goal. It would support families, strengthen education, improve health outcomes and affirm a fundamental principle: that every child matters equally.”
