64,000 supermarket vouchers given to families in Cambridgeshire
The scheme will continue for another 12 months
A scheme which helps families in Cambridgeshire who are struggling with the cost-of-living-crisis is continuing for another 12 months, having already given out nearly 64,000 supermarket vouchers.
The county council has decided to continue funding the scheme at a cost of £4 million.
It means eligible families in Cambridgeshire will continue to be offered for at least the next 12 months.
The funding is part of the new Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme (CHVS). This is replacing the Household Support Fund – a government scheme which has so far provided three rounds of support during school holidays.
So far, nearly 64,000 vouchers have been claimed from the fund, including around 22,000 from the recent February half-term.
Those eligible for the vouchers are pupils who meet the following criteria:
- Eligible for income related funded two-year-old education (aged 2)
- Early Years Pupil Premium (aged 3 and 4)
- Eligible for income-related free school meals (4 to 16)
- Eligible for 16+ bursary (16 to 19)
- Receiving an Education, Health and Care Plan (up to 25).
The decision to allocate 12 months of funding for the CHVS was approved by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee.
Committee Chair Cllr Bryony Goodliffe said: “Thousands of families have benefitted from the supermarket vouchers so I’m delighted we have received funding from the Government to continue offering this support for the next year.
“If you believe you may be eligible but have not signed up, please do get in touch. We know times are tough for many families and we are here to help.”