Take subsidy for free milk, schools urged
Take subsidy for free milk, schools urged
AN East Sussex farmer is stepping up the campaign to encourage primary schools to provide free school milk via a subsidy scheme.
Campaigner Roger Foxwell, who farms at Seaford, is keen to see county schools taking up a subsidy that provides nursery-age children with the white stuff free and subsidised milk for the over-fives.
"Of the 44,474 children in East Sussex eligible for free or subsidised milk, only 3092 children receive milk through the scheme," says Mr Foxwell. He has successfully pressed Matt Dunkley, the Director of East Sussex Education Authority, to mailshot schools with details of the subsidy and how to claim it.
"Milk is vital for healthy teeth and bones and its available to schools free only if they choose to put the systems in place. The school milk scheme can also help dairy farmers gain a better price for their produce – and bring the milk price above the cost of production," said Mr Foxwell, a staunch campaigner keen to see more local produce on supermarket shelves and on school meals menus.
He added: "It is up to parents, governors and teachers to play a part in getting free milk back into schools."
Where milk is available for pupils to buy (from school catering contractors), Mr Foxwell has been dismayed to find that cartons of flavoured milk on offer come from Germany, and this in area where local dairy farms are disappearing.
Dairy farmer William Craig of Gote Farm, Ringmer, pointed out that since 1997, around one third of East Sussex dairy farmers had left the milk industry. He said: "Struggling milk producers would like to see every primary school in East Sussex serving school milk – a good uptake of this scheme might be enough to raise the milk price and prevent more farms going under. Providing milk in schools can help children form a healthy diet from an early age and it can bring real benefits in later life, preventing bad teeth and brittle bones."
Free school milk is government-funded, so if children in your area are not being offered it contact your local county council or the National Dairy Council (020-7499 7822).
School milk campaigners… farmers Roger Foxwell and William Craig with children enjoying a free drink of The White Stuff.