Families to again receive food vouchers for half-term, as council moves to support households in need

Families across Stoke-on-Trent are again set to be given food vouchers, after the city council moved to provide extra support during the school holidays.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is making the support available to families who receive free school meals, and will see £20 vouchers given out for the February half-term. It is an extra measure being taken by the authority to support families in need after providing households with vouchers for the Christmas holidays and helping families to access sustainable healthy meals, food recipes and slow cookers as part of a range of measures over the winter period.

It’s part of the Stronger Together Through Winter campaign which is seeing the council work hand-in-hand with other public services and the voluntary and community sector to provide targeted support to vulnerable people, households and individuals.

Council leader Abi Brown said: “We committed to spending £2.7m in direct support to people across our city who need the help the most. Through working in partnership with a wide range of wonderful grass roots organisations, we’re able to ensure this money is reaching more people who need this support the most.

“We have made this money go a long way, from energy vouchers, heaters and appliances, to support to manage money and debt, to activities and facilities to combat social isolation, to support for people’s mental health.

“We announced at Christmas a package of measures for families that included providing over 17,000 food vouchers to support vulnerable children. Working with our partners, we also provided resources for families to plan their own sustainable, healthy meals for the future.

“In again providing food vouchers for February half-term, we have gone above and beyond support that families receive in many other areas of the country. We are committed to do all we can to help people who need our help the most.”

The authority will again work in partnership with Wonde 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.

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. Families should contact their school if they haven’t received a voucher by the start of half-term.

Families with a child in receipt of an EHCP who attends a school outside Stoke-on-Trent or who is educated at home, are asked to check the council’s website to see if they are eligible for a voucher. If they are, they can also apply online via www.stoke.gov.uk/foodvouchers or calling 01782 234234.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions in order to help families access food and essential supplies. The vouchers can be redeemed at supermarkets such as Aldi, Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.

For more information about support available through the Stronger Together Through Winter campaign, visit http://sottogether.vast.org.uk.