A CHARITY in Wrexham has launched a campaign to prevent children from going hungry in schools. 

TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities) and young activist members from St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican School, Wrexham have engaged in an extensive campaign during 2023 entitled #NoHungryLearners. 

The campaign aims to alleviate the burden of school meal debt and promote equal opportunities for all children to thrive academically.

The process of paying for school meals in Wrexham High Schools involves using a pre-pay top-up system – “parent pay” - to top up school dinner money for their child to be able to buy food from the canteen.

If at times a parent has been unable to top up, council policy is that they are offered a meal of the day or a sandwich. This ‘meal of the day’ creates a debt on the pre-paid account.

If all sandwiches of ‘meal of the day’ have been used some students are left with no or limited options.

Many students rely on school meals as a crucial source of nutrition, but unfortunately, not all families can afford to pay for these meals.

A survey carried out by the youngsters found that the stress of school dinner debt had a profound impact on students' well-being and left some with feelings of humiliation and worry.

The Young Leaders said: "We want to get rid of this problem that is happening right now. This campaign isn’t just about children going hungry, but also the mentally damaging stigma that surrounds such situations”.

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St Joseph’s Headteacher Christopher Wilkinson “absolutely supports the campaign”, and is “extremely proud of his pupils”.

He said: “I would hate that any child would be ashamed and embarrassed due to lack or shortage of food.”

To support their work, the group has also discussed issues regarding school dinner debt and child poverty with Lesley Griffiths MS, Ken Skates MS, Councillor Phil Wynn, lead member for education, and Rocio Cifuentes, Children's Commissioner for Wales.

The #NoHungryLearners campaign aims to eliminate the financial burden of school dinner debt and create a nurturing environment where every child can focus on their education and reach their full potential.