15,000 food vouchers to support families during half-term,

The latest in a series of initiatives to support residents through the impact of the coronavirus sees more than 15,000 food vouchers available to families for May half-term.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is using money from the government’s Covid Local Support Grant to provide around 15,462 food vouchers to households across the city. Arrangements are in place that will see more than 14,000 of those vouchers issued directly by schools to families ahead of the weekend. (Article published Friday 28 May 2021).

It follows similar successful initiatives over other holiday periods during the past six months which have seen 45,601 food vouchers issued to families totalling £1,226,000 in support.

Council leader Abi Brown said: “We’re really pleased to be able to provide food vouchers again to support families as households continue to recover from the impact of the coronavirus. It follows on from successful schemes during Christmas, February half-term and Easter school holidays. Vouchers are issued for children entitled to free school meals and children with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). Each voucher is worth £15 and one is distributed per child, per week.

“Families do not need to apply for a voucher if their child is at a school in the city – schools will issue the vouchers directly for children who are eligible to receive them. We would ask families to contact their school if they haven’t received a voucher by the start of half-term.

“We would also ask city families with a pre-school child in a private nursery or with a child in receipt of an EHCP who attends a school outside the city to check our website to see if they are eligible for a voucher, and if so they can also apply online via: www.stoke.gov.uk/foodvouchers”

If any of the vouchers are unclaimed after the holidays, the council will use them to support local charities that help vulnerable people.

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