Many children in Lewisham receive free school meals. Lewisham Council is responsible for school catering. Since 1999 it has paid one of the biggest catering companies in the world to feed our children: Chartwells/Compass Foods. 

This contract is coming to an end. Instead of letting a private company make profits from our taxes and our kids' plates, we want school food to be made and served by people who work for Lewisham Council. Employees with secure conditions and London living wage guaranteed. Bringing our school kitchens into public ownership means they can serve others in need in our communities.

Recent school food parcels were shockingly inadequate, and Chartwells were responsible for some of the very worst. But the food our kids are served inside school dinner halls is poor too. Quality, variety and quantity is inconsistent. Chartwells is particularly bad, refusing to provide halal food and missing target time and again. Perhaps that is why some schools spend many hours negotiating contracts with rival companies when they should be allowed to focus on teaching and care.

Let's spend our Council budget on nutritious food for our kids and wages for the local people who make it, following Lewisham Council's manifesto and Corporate Strategy.

Every child has the right to sufficient, healthy food which is culturally appropriate and meets any specific medical needs they may have.

So, we the undersigned call on Lewisham Council to end the use of private contractors and to bring school catering back into public hands with immediate effect.

(signatories must work or live in London Borough of Lewisham and provide postcode)