Across the country, councils are working hard to make sure every child has access to good food, whether through early years support, free school meals or wider healthy weight or anti-poverty strategies. But we know how complex this can be. Food provision across childhood often sits across multiple teams, services and settings, making it hard […]
Working with councils to improve child health and tackle inequalities Read More »
“This project has been a great success and we have a useful model for local authorities to use – but we can’t stop calling for national free school meal auto-enrolment, because until we have that, sadly, there will always be children missing out” Myles Bremner, CEO, Bremner & Co A strong call to action from
Fix Our Food: The case for free school meal auto-enrolment Read More »
From Guernsey to Westminster, September brought fresh energy and grounded collaboration for the Bremner & Co team. This month spanned joyful conversations about childhood, the growing potential of beans, and bold ideas to transform food in the early years. Across conferences, summits, and workshops, we shared learning, built new connections, and helped shape the next
Our September in events: joy, beans, and bold ideas Read More »
Today we’re publishing Follow the Carrot, the final report for our research that asked a simple question: could expanding free school meals also strengthen the UK food and farming economy? Our analysis suggests the answer is yes, if expansion is matched with the right conditions for success. Commissioned by Sustain and with support from the
Follow the Carrot: can free school meal expansion boost the UK food and farming economy? Read More »
From farmer’s fields to Westminster corridors, July’s events gave us space to connect, share ideas, and push forward conversations on food, education, and early years. We’ve gathered the highlights from a month that showed, once again, how change is built in meetings, in kitchens, in fields, and in communities. Groundswell 2 July Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire
Our July in events: nutrition, equity, and local food systems Read More »
Myles and Dayna reflect on what they shared and learnt at last week’s Future Food Symposium at the University of Birmingham The Future Food Symposium 2025, hosted by the University of Birmingham, brought together academics, advocates, and practitioners working at the intersection of food, education, and policy. Across two days of panels and presentations, the
Birmingham Future Food Symposium: The Child Nutrition Policy Rollercoaster Read More »
On 1st April 2025, a quiet but far-reaching change came into effect: the end of transitional protections for free school meals (FSM). Over the next six years, an estimated 500,000 – 550,000 children in England currently on FSM will no longer receive them — children who had previously been shielded from sudden eligibility changes due
A quarter of all those on free school meals set to lose out? Read More »
Our Partner, Dayna, has written an article in The Independent examining how baby formula pricing and marketing tactics are driving up costs for parents—and what must change to better protect families. The rising cost of formula is not just an inconvenience; for many families, it is a crisis. Research by First Steps Nutrition Trust found
“When we have lunch, it makes us stronger, healthier, and we can concentrate more on our learning.” – Year 4 pupil In 2023, London achieved a milestone in school food policy, extending free school meals to every primary-aged child in state-funded schools. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by £130 million in emergency funding from Mayor Sadiq
New report: Independent evaluation of universal free school meals in London Read More »
A year ago, I began an in-depth exploration of food policy coherence within UK local authorities to better understand how councils navigate the complex web of actors influencing food systems. Today, my findings shed light on the practical realities of achieving policy coherence and highlight both successes and areas for improvement. Here’s a summary of
New Report: Food Policy Coherence in Local Government Read More »
