Natalie Hay

The Campaign

Natalie Hay, an education professional with over 20 years’ experience and a parent carer, indpendently launched the Free School Meal Inclusion campaign after discovering many disabled children – despite eligibility – were missing out on Free School Meals (FSM). These includes children unable to attend school due to medical or sensory needs, those on home tuition, those  with EOTAS and those whose schools cannot meet their needs. Families were left covering meal costs, adding financial strain during the cost-of-living crisis and increasing the risk of food poverty. 

In response, Natalie raised £8,000 through Crowd Justice to instruct human rights lawyers to challenge the government’s FSM policy. She founded and leads a national parental caregivers’ support group of over 4,700 members, offering monthly webinars and peer support. She also holds webinars and talks for national charities and her community support groups to empower parent carers and educate them on their children’s rights.  

Through this grassroots movement, she has engaged media, national charities and MPs to influence change. The campaign now calls for schools, local authorities, and the government to implement proactive, inclusive, and legally compliant FSM systems that provide automatic help to children in need. 

The Change

Thanks to the legal action led by Natalie Hay in April 2023 – supported by solicitor Alex Rook, barrister Steve Broach – the Department for Education updated its Free School Meal guidance in March 2024. They admitted that discrimination could be happening according to the European Commissionon of Human Rights in the letter to Natalie in Novemnber 2023 and promised to update their guidance by March 2024. This marked a significant legal and social victory. 

The updated guidance now recognises children out of school due to long-term illness, awaiting suitable placements, at Specialist SEN schools or unable to eat standard school meals due to medical or sensory needs. This is making FSM access more inclusive and better aligned with equality law. The Department of Education guidance increased from 3 to 19 pages. 

This change was achieved through Natalie’s leadership, combining professional expertise, lived experience, public speaking, grassroots activism, legal action, and ongoing family support through her 4,700-strong community. Natalie’s work was honoured with a Highly Commended Changemaker of the Year Award 2024. Supporting charity (Contact) also received national recognition at the Charity Awards for their support and involvement. The campaign continues to advocate for dignity, inclusion, and systemic improvements in education and public policy and Natalie continues to amplify the voices of the overwhelmed and exhausted parental carers’ and she promotes children’s inclusion and rights in all aspects of her work. 

The Future

Natalie Hay’s future vision for the campaign is that as schools and local authorities become aware of the newly updated Department for Education policy and guidance, they proactively identify and support families whose children are missing out on Free School Meals (FSM) due to medical or sensory needs. Ultimately, she hopes to see the government introduce an automatic registration system for children with disabilities, removing the burden from families to constantly self-advocate. 

As a campaigner, she will continue to champion carers’ rights, raise awareness of children living with chronic illnesses – including ME/CFS and Lyme disease – and advocate for a more inclusive and compassionate UK education system. She believes education should be rooted in well-being, play, and personalised learning to improve both mental health and long-term outcomes for all children. Natalie continues to lead and support her national, virtual community: Parent Carers UK.