School Captains, Liam and Kendal, from The Robert Burns Academy gave a warm welcome to guests from the Council who joined them for lunch prepared by Catering Services.
The special guests were invited to join the young people and try the School Meal Deal, which was introduced in August 2023 in response to the Cost of Living crisis, and will continue during the 2024/25 school year.
The Meal Deal means that Primary 6 and Primary 7’s pay £1.08 for their school meal. All the primary menus are online so that parents and carers can encourage their children and young people to make positive choices.
At secondary schools, the Meal Deal is a bit different, young people pay £1.08 for:
· a main meal, which includes a deli option – a pizza or burger – a pasta/ noodle or rice pot
· a drink – a 250ml carton of Radnor water or flavoured Radnor water
· a piece of fruit
· a snack, which can include – soup, a yogurt, a healthy biscuit or an additional piece of fruit.
Councillor Graham Barton, Spokesperson for Planning, Property and Environment was joined by Councillors Jim McMahon, Neal Ingram, Barry Douglas, Chief Executive Eddie Fraser and Head of Campus Tracy Stewart. He said:
"I was delighted to join Head of Campus Tracy Stewart and the Catering Services team for lunch with the young people from The Robert Burns Academy. It was a great opportunity to try the Meal Deal for ourselves, speak to the young people directly about issues that matter to them and their views of the Meal Deal, which were overwhelmingly positive.
"The team at Catering Services work incredibly hard ensuring that children and young people have access to wholesome, freshly cooked food made from excellent, fresh quality ingredients. They are also helping to make school lunch breaks interesting and enjoyable which in turn encourages children and young people to make good choices and enjoy a well-balanced diet. And for just £1.08 a meal it really is an unbeatable deal."
Kendal, School Captain from The Robert Burns Academy said:
The school lunch Meal Deal is a great, affordable option for the children and young people who attend the Barony Campus. I have a school lunch most days, the soup is the best - it’s healthy and delicious. Lewis and I really appreciated Councillors Graham Barton, Neal Ingram, Jim McMahon, Barry Douglas, and Chief Executive Eddie Fraser taking the time from their busy days to join us for lunch."
Catering Services are an award winning team that provide nutritionally balanced meals for children and young people throughout East Ayrshire. There is virtually no processed food used at any stage and East Ayrshire is the only Council to have achieved Gold Soil Association Food Awards consecutively since 2008, having committed to using local suppliers for fresh ingredients.