Over 100,000 food vouchers given out this Christmas in Hampshire
It has been funded by the government's Covid Winter Grant Scheme
More than 105,000 thousand £15 pound food vouchers have been given out in Hampshire this Christmas.
They have gone to the families of over 35,000 children and young people to ensure that they're not left hungry during the holidays.
It has been funded from the £2.89 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme allocation.
In line with the Department for Work and Pensions' funding criteria, food vouchers have been given to:
- All families whose children are eligible for free school meals
- Children being supported by a social worker
- Children receiving early help services from the County Council’s Family Support Service
- 2-4 year olds accessing childcare and eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium, or
- 16-18 year olds who were previously eligible for free school meals
How many children will benefit in our area?
Rushmoor- 2,536 (£114,120 of funding spent)
Hart- 1,311 (£58,995 of funding spent)
East Hampshire- 2,233 (£100,485 of funding spent)
Councillor Patricia Stallard, the County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services and Young People said:
“This scheme has allowed us to do what we can to help parents to be able to afford to buy enough food to feed their children over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
"With this food voucher scheme, we aim to help avoid children and young people in Hampshire having to go hungry during the school holidays.
“I am grateful to all those who have gone further than the extra mile to deliver this scheme in time for the end of term.
"I am deeply appreciative of the role that early years providers, schools and colleges have played in this – without their support to purchase and distribute vouchers to eligible families, we would not have managed this enormous task within the unavoidable tight timescale.”
Each eligible household has received a voucher for each child, for both weeks of the holiday.
They will also be receiving a voucher ahead of the February half term week.
Each one is worth £15 per week and the vouchers can be used at a wide range of supermarkets