The project team are successful in reaching the finalist stage in the 'Championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Children's Food' category of the Children's Food Awards 2025.
The ESRC-funded School Meals project, a collaboration between the Universities of 91Ö±²¥, Wolverhampton, and UCL, addresses disparities in school meal provision across the UK, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in children's food.
By using archival research, oral histories, and ethnography, the project highlights the lived experiences of children, families, and school staff. Focusing on socio-economic, ethnic, and geographical inequalities, it examines the impact of school meals on health, wellbeing, and education.
The project has collaborated closely with the APPG for School Food and contributed to the 2023 POSTNote on Child Food Insecurity and Free School Meals, ensuring its research has direct impact on national policy discussions.
The judges were particularly impressed by the use of ethnography and oral history to provide deeper insights into school food experiences.
The winner of this year's Children's Food Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on 25th February.