The LIFT platform pinpoints families who fall below the £7,400 income threshold, receive a passported benefit, and have school-aged children in education. The platform then cross references with the School Census data to identify which eligible households are not currently claiming FSM.
In doing so, the LIFT platform found that although 1,500 children across 900 households in three London Boroughs were eligible, they were not receiving a FSM.
This information was given to councils in three boroughs: Lambeth, Lewisham, and Wandsworth, allowing each council to auto-enrol eligible children and notify households.
As a result, auto-enrolment generated over £2.7 million to residence and schools in the process. Schools benefited from additional funds awarded for Pupil Premium and households saved significantly by cutting food costs.
Complex paperwork and administration should not stand in the way of children accessing FSM. Our manifesto calls on the next government to implement auto-enrolment so all children who are entitled to a FSM can access it immediately.
You can read more about the tool here.
