Stockport Council has confirmed it will continue to issue vouchers for families eligible for benefit-related free school meals for students attending schools in the borough.
Further funding from central government has allowed the council to continue support for families until the end of May. Following widespread campaigning and criticism of food packages being offered by suppliers, the free school meals voucher scheme has allowed families in need to access the additional food during school holidays and whilst schools shifted to home-learning during lockdown periods. Christmas fundraising by Stockport County Football Club had previously helped to fund the programme earlier in the year.
Eligible families do not need to apply as the Council is working with Stockport schools and colleges to identify the vulnerable families in need of support and will issue vouchers directly to them.
The vouchers will be sent directly to families in the coming weeks via email.
Those families without email access will receive their vouchers by post.
The Deputy Leader for Stockport Council, Cllr Tom McGee, said:
Additional funding secured from Central Government has enabled us to offer this vital support. We know that for many the vouchers have provided a valuable additional resource whilst coronavirus restrictions have placed additional pressures on household budgets.”
This offer compliments the support being provided by Stockport communities, the voluntary sector and schools.
Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Neighbourhoods, Cllr Amanda Peers, said:
We have made £200k available to these agencies to enhance the support they can provide to households that may otherwise not qualify for support.”
Cllr Peers added that further support is also being looked at later this year:
We are working with a range of partners to develop a programme of activities to support children and young people through the summer holidays.
An initial offering of activities will be available over the Easter to support families and inform the summer programme. Holiday Activities will be the primary offer to benefit related free school meals families going forward and will provide children and young people with both positive activities and access to food.”
If you are in immediate need of financial support, please visit our money advice and support pages or contact the Coronavirus helpline on 0161 217 6046.
For more information on Free School Meals, visit FSM Frequently Asked Questions.
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