Over 7,000 children in the Borough will benefit this summer as vouchers will once again be issued for the holiday period by the council.
The supermarket vouchers will be distributed to thousands of families who are entitled to income-related free school meals over the six-week summer holiday.
The vouchers are provided through the Household Support Fund, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Cllr Graeme Coombes, portfolio holder for finance, risk and welfare said: “We’re proud to place families at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’re pleased to announce that over the summer holidays, we’ll once again be providing food vouchers to those who are eligible for income-related free school meals.
“This initiative will offer timely relief for families, helping to ease the financial strain that many people experience over the holidays and making sure that no child or young person is left without access to a healthy, nutritious meal.”
Children are eligible for the vouchers if their family receives one of the benefits listed below and have applied for free school meals:
- Universal Credit – with an annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Two-Year-Old Funding
These vouchers will be distributed as they have been previously, via email, or through their school’s established distribution process.
The Council and Bedford Borough schools urge families to find out if they are eligible for free school meals at their website here so they can receive the support that they need.
