Sefton Council Assures Nutritional Support to Schoolchildren During Holidays

Even more families in Sefton will be receiving free school meal support this Christmas.

Each of the 130 additional children in the Borough now receiving free school meals thanks to Sefton Council’s recent data-crunching exercise, will be receiving supermarket vouchers for the holidays.

Sefton Council is once again supporting families whose children are eligible for free school meals by providing supermarket vouchers for the holiday period.

Each eligible child receives vouchers worth £15 per week. Distributed through schools, the vouchers can be used in supermarkets and online to buy food and essentials.

Over 9,000 local families have benefitted from the school holiday vouches scheme which the Council finances through its Household Support Fund allocation.

Cllr Diane Roscoe, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families said:“It’s good to know that we are helping make sure children and families are not going hungry, not only at this time of year, but during each of the school holidays.

“We know that being sure of getting a healthy meal at lunchtime helps all children with their learning, but we also recognise how important that nourishment is during the holidays too.”

Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said:

“I’m glad that thanks to our recent smart use of the Low Income Family Tracker data system, 100-plus extra children and young people will be getting that support and security through the school Christmas holidays as well as during term time.

“Plus, the schools those additional pupils attend could receive an additional £175,000 in Pupil Premium funding to help them provide extra resources and support for children from low-income households.”

In addition to the financial support being provided over the holidays, Sefton Council’s Family Hubs have a programme of events and activities underway for young people. People can find details of family hubs, including School Holiday Timetables atwww.sefton.gov.uk/familyhubs. 

People can also find out more about support available atwww.sefton.gov.uk/costofliving.