Sandwell children get food vouchers for Christmas holidays as part of £1.8million pledge
More than 18,000 Sandwell children will receive
food vouchers over the Christmas holidays.
The council is using Household Support Funding to make sure the families of children who are eligible for Free School Meals get £15 towards food each week during the holidays. The vouchers are being issued by schools. It’s part of a £1.8million commitment to fund food vouchers during school holidays which will continue over the February half-term and Easter breaks in 2023. Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said: “Christmas and New Year is going to be a difficult time for many people. “With food rces going up and so many families worried about paying their bills and the cost of energy, we want to make sure children don’t go hungry.
“Providing food vouchers during the school holidays is one way we can do that in Sandwell and we’ve committed to doing that right up to and including the Easter holidays next year. “We’re also developing help for schools to support families who just miss out on the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals, as well as setting up breakfast clubs and helping with packed lunches.” Sandwell Council’s Supporting Sandwell information hub has a “help with food” section, where everyone can get information about budget recipes, food pantries and how to access a food bank. Plus, there is information about the community meals service (“meals on wheels”) and details of the NHS Healthy Start scheme that helps eligible families with food and milk.
Go to our Help With Food webpage. Families are being urged to check out the Sandwell Holiday and Activities and Food offer, funded in partnership by the Department of Education and Sandwell Council, where children can sign up to activities throughout the school holidays. A new website is now available where families can view and book activities for all Sandwell children, including those eligible and those not eligible for Free School Meals.
Go to our Holiday Activities and Food webpage for details. For more details of the cost of living help and advice available, visit the council’s Supporting Sandwell information hub online.
Go to our Supporting Sandwell information hub.
To receive cost of living tips to your phone via WhatsApp, add 07585 997453 to your contacts then send the word YES to this number.
There are more than 60 Warm Spaces run by the council and community and voluntary sector groups, where people can stay warm, have a chat, enjoy a hot drink and get advice.
To find one go to our Warm Spaces webpage.