NEW FILM WITH EMMA THOMPSON CALLS ON SCHOOL CATERERS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO LEAD CHANGE IN 2026
22 January 2026 – London, UK – A new animated film, The Lunch They Deserve, narrated by Dame Emma Thompson and featuring young food campaigners from across the UK, is urging school caterers and local authorities to play a central role in improving the quality of school food ahead of major policy changes in 2026.
The film highlights the everyday reality of children experiencing food insecurity and makes a clear case for why high-quality, nutritious school meals must be treated as essential public infrastructure — not an optional extra. With Free School Meal eligibility set to expand from September 2026, the film positions caterers and commissioners as key partners in delivering meaningful change at scale.
Produced by BAFTA-winning animators The Tin Bear Project, and funded by Trust for London and The National Lottery Community Fund, The Lunch They Deserve brings together lived experience, evidence and professional insight to show how school food standards directly affect children’s health, learning and long-term outcomes.
Dame Emma Thompson said:
“School lunchtime is the golden opportunity for society to step up, to serve great food to our young people and by doing so support families, the NHS and our communities. Every child has the right to healthy food.”
Chef and school food campaigner Jamie Oliver reinforced the importance of consistent standards across the system:
“Good school food transforms children’s health, learning, attendance and wellbeing. Yet we still have a system where some children eat well at school and others don’t. That’s outrageous.”
The film features four young ambassadors — Nausheen, Rylee, Emmanuela and Adama — who describe how the quality of food served at school affects their concentration, confidence and sense of fairness. Their stories underline the importance of meal quality, portion adequacy and cultural relevance, alongside access.
From a professional nutrition perspective, the message is clear: expansion of access must be matched by investment in standards, skills and delivery.
Kathy Lewis RNutr, Registered Nutritionist, said:
“School caterers and local authorities are pivotal to turning policy ambition into healthy meals on plates. As access to Free School Meals expands in 2026, it is vital that menus are built around evidence-based nutrition standards, appropriate funding, and practical support for caterers — so quality is not compromised as numbers increase.”
For local authorities, the film reinforces the importance of:
- Robust procurement and contract monitoring
- Adequate meal funding and indexation
- Support for workforce skills, training and retention
- Clear accountability for meeting school food standards
For caterers, it highlights the opportunity to:
- Champion freshly prepared, nutritious menus
- Engage pupils through appealing, inclusive food
- Demonstrate the value of school meals to headteachers and families
- Contribute directly to public health and educational outcomes
The Lunch They Deserve serves as a timely reminder that school food is a frontline service — and that caterers and commissioners are essential to ensuring every child receives a meal that supports their health, learning and future potential.
ENDS
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