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Schoolgirl's blog ban dropped

Argyll and Bute council has reversed its ban on school photography after it had earlier stopped a nine-year-old girl blogging about her school meal.

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Charity benefiting from school girl blog are 'overwhelmed'

Martha Payne took pictures of her school meals and scored each one based on healthiness and price. Credit: Martha Payne

A spokesman for Mary's Meals - the charity benefiting from school girl Martha Payne's meal blog and fundraising page - said they have been "overwhelmed" by the response.

"Martha's support for Mary's Meals has been incredible and we are extremely grateful for everything that she has done to help us reach some of the hungriest children in the world.

"We are overwhelmed by the huge response to her efforts which has led to so many more people donating to her online donation page. Thanks to this fantastic support, Martha has now raised enough money to build a kitchen in Malawi and to feed an entire school with Mary's Meals for a whole year."

School blogger raises more than £60,000 for charity

Martha Payne has raised more than £60,000 for charity after her school food blog got the world's attention

A nine-year-old blogger has raised more than £60,000 for charity after a council overturned a ban on her taking photos of her school meals.

Donations to Martha Payne's fundraising website are continuing to pour in today after she was told she could resume posting photos to her NeverSeconds blog, which reviews her meals at her school's cafeteria in Lochgilphead, Argyll.

She had set herself a target of reaching £7,000 for Mary's Meals, a charity running school feeding projects in impoverished communities around the world, but the total currently stands at £64,249.07.

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'No place for censorship' at council that banned schoolgirl's blog

Roddy McCuish, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, has issued a statement following the reversal of a ban on a nine-year-old girl's school dinner blog:

There is no place for censorship in this Council and never will be whilst I am leader.

I have advised senior officers that this Administration intends to clarify the Council's policy position in regard to taking photos in schools.

He confirmed that the lifting of a ban on photography in school dining halls will allow Martha Payne to continue with her NeverSeconds blog, which has now raised over £30,000 for charity.

I have therefore requested senior officials to consider immediately withdrawing the ban on pictures from the school dining hall until a report can be considered by Elected Members.

This will allow the continuation of the "Neverseconds" blog written by an enterprising and imaginative pupil, Martha Payne which has also raised lots of money for charity.

Council reverses ban on 9-year-old's school dinner blog

Argyll and Bute Council has dropped its ban on photographs taken in school dining halls after internet users expressed their outrage at the rule which put a halt to a successful school dinner blog run by a nine-year-old.

Council leader Roddy McCuish told BBC Radio 4's World at One:

"I have just instructed senior officials to withdraw the ban on photos from the school dining hall.

"It is a good thing to do, to change your mind and I have certainly done that."

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