Thousands of families in need set to receive food vouchers this Christmas

Thousands of families in need set to receive food vouchers this Christmas

Thousands of families across Stoke-on-Trent who are entitled to free school meals, are set to be given supermarket vouchers for food during the Christmas school break. It’s part of the multi-million-pound package of funding and support worth £2million that is being distributed to families and individuals over the Winter by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

The city council are working in partnership with Wonde once again to issue supermarket vouchers to support families on free school meals and families where children have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place over the school break. Each family will get a £50 voucher per child.

This follows on from the summer holidays where food vouchers were provided to over 16,000 children in the city.

Council leader Abi Brown said: “We are pleased to be able to provide food vouchers again to support families, we know many households are already struggling with the rise in the cost of living and this will be much needed support from them.

“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 child in receipt of an EHCP who attends a school outside the city or are educated at home 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 or calling 01782 234234.”

The scheme is funded by the Department of Work and Pensions in order to help families access food and essential supplies. The vouchers can be redeemed at supermarket such as; Aldi, Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose.

Over the Christmas holidays the city council in partnership with the Hubb Foundation will once again be running the Holiday Activities and Food programme. More details about these sessions available to children aged between five and 16 and primarily aimed at children who are eligible for free school meals, will be released shortly.

Families across Stoke-on-Trent this Winter period can also access support via The Stronger Together Through Winter initiative. The campaign by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, voluntary and community sector organisation VAST and businesses and groups throughout the city has now created a whole host of welcoming spaces across the city, as well signposting information on food, financial and mental health support at http://sottogether.vast.org.uk.