Food vouchers to support Beds families during half term
The families of more than 7,000 children will be supported
The families of more than 7,000 children in Central Bedfordshire will be supported with food costs during half term.
Families will receive a £15 voucher for every child eligible for free school meals.
This can be spent at supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Iceland and Waitrose.
The support is being funded through the Government’s Household Support Fund, which aims to support vulnerable households across the country during the winter.
Councillor Sue Clark, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
"The pandemic has put pressure on families, and we’re delighted to be providing vouchers to families in need in Central Bedfordshire again.
"We hope families will find these vouchers helpful, and that they will make things a little bit easier during half term."
The support is said to build on Central Bedfordshire Council’s continuing support for vulnerable families during the pandemic.
This includes a programme of holiday activities, which ran over the summer, for 1,700 children and young people from disadvantaged families which was funded by the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme.
A similar programme will happen again during the Christmas holiday.