Recycling and waste collections - There will be no collections on Monday 31 August, as a result all collections will be one day later than usual until Saturday 5 September.
Free school meals extended to more secondary school pupils in Bridgend County Borough
Thursday 03 September 2026
More secondary school pupils in Bridgend County Borough will be eligible for free school meals from the 2026-27 school year, following changes to Universal Credit eligibility thresholds.
Eligible pupils in Years 7 and 8 will benefit from the expanded provision, with applications open this week. The new provision will then launch shortly afterwards.
The change means that more families who meet the revised Universal Credit threshold will be able to access free school meals for their children.
“We are pleased to be able to extend access to free school meals to more children and young people across Bridgend County Borough. For families, the cost of providing nutritious meals every day can be a significant pressure, so this additional support can make a real difference. We want to make sure that eligible pupils can benefit from the provision as quickly and easily as possible. I would encourage parents and carers of pupils in Years 7 and 8 to head over to the council’s website to check their eligibility and view details of how to apply."
Parents and carers should be aware that this is not a full roll-out of universal free school meals across all secondary school year groups. The new provision specifically applies to eligible pupils in Years 7 and 8.
Pupils who already receive eligible Free School Meals (eFSM) do not need to apply again. Their existing entitlement will continue.
Further information, including details of who is eligible and how to apply, can be found on the council’s website.
Parents and carers are encouraged to keep an eye on the council’s communication channels for the latest updates.