Free school meals vouchers for summer holidays

This summer, families in Bath and North East Somerset who are eligible for free school meals will be provided with vouchers worth £90 per child to help prevent holiday hunger. From 12:00 on Wednesday (July 20), families will receive an email from Bath & North East Somerset Council offering supermarket vouchers worth £15 per child per week. Once they confirm, a second email will be sent containing ‘Select’ codes with a web link to the council’s supplier, Hawk Incentives, taking them to a page where they will be presented with a selection of supermarkets to choose from. The reward total can be split between different supermarkets and codes can be added for each qualifying child to increase the reward total. The scheme is funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund to support vulnerable households. New rules set by the Government earlier this year about how the fund should be spent meant vouchers offered by the council from the May 2022 holiday onwards are now £15 per child, instead of the £20 per child offered in previous holiday periods. we are disappointed that government changed the rules around the distribution of the Household Support Fund, however we are pleased we are in a position to provide this support to families over the upcoming six-week holiday which can be a financially challenging time for people already on low incomes. With the rise in the cost of living we hope this funding will provide a significant boost to families who need it in Bath and North East Somerset. “Anyone who is struggling can get in touch with us. We can help you access other support with food across the area, including via our Welfare Support Team and the Community Wellbeing Hub.” Anyone eligible for benefit related free school meals and has not claimed a voucher previously can make a claim through council’s free school meals vouchers web portal which will open during the afternoon of July 20. Anyone eligible for the vouchers who does not have electronic means of contacting the council should telephone the Benefits team on 01225 477777 (option 4).

Free School Meal vouchers for upcoming holidays

Families in Bath and North East Somerset who are eligible for free school meals will be provided with supermarket vouchers to cover the upcoming school holidays by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

However, the council is notifying parents and carers of a reduction in the value of the vouchers caused by new restrictions on funding set by the Government.

Families will be offered supermarket vouchers to the value of £15 per child instead of the £20 per child per week offered for previous school holidays, due to new rules about how the Government’s Household Support Fund to support vulnerable households should be spent.

The new conditions of the fund being awarded to councils is that at least one third is used to support pensioner households.

From today (May 26), eligible families who received vouchers during the Easter break will automatically be sent an e-mail asking if they wish to receive a £15 voucher for their child.

Once they confirm, a second email will be sent containing ‘Select’ codes with a web link to the council’s supplier, Hawk Incentives, taking them to a page where they will be presented with a selection of supermarkets to choose from and a reward total which can be split between different supermarkets. Codes can be added for each qualifying child to increase the reward total.

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, and Communities, said: “We continue to support vulnerable people of all ages in Bath and North East Somerset, however I am very disappointed that we have been given no choice but to reduce the amount of the free school meal vouchers to £15 per child per week. It’s a similar picture for other local authorities too. 

“We know that families on fixed or low incomes are disproportionately affected by the cost of living going up, so it is saddening to me that there is no flexibility in the Government’s approach about how councils can administer the Household Support Fund. I will be making representations to the Government so they understand the impact the new grant conditions have on families with children.

“However, despite the reduction in the value of the vouchers, the council is still supporting residents in every way we can. Households in emergency need can access other support with food across the area, including via our Welfare Support Team and the Community Wellbeing Hub.”

Anyone eligible for benefit related free school meals and has not claimed a voucher previously can make a claim through the council’s free school meals web portal which will open during the afternoon of May 26.

Parents and carers are also being notified that a data discrepancy has been identified in which fewer emails have been automatically generated than the number of eligible families. This affects a small proportion of families and anyone affected will receive an email about this.

Anyone eligible for the vouchers who does not have electronic means of contacting the council should telephone the Benefits team on 01225 477777.

Free School Meals voucher scheme to cover February holidays

 

Bath & North East Somerset Council is once again providing supermarket vouchers to families whose children are eligible for free school meals over the upcoming school holidays.

Families who applied to receive vouchers from the council’s Christmas scheme will automatically receive a £20 voucher for the February half term.

From today (February 4) the council will send all previous voucher recipients an email asking them to confirm they would like a £20 voucher per child. Once confirmed, a further email will be sent containing the supermarket voucher codes.

New applications from families who haven’t claimed the vouchers before can be made online via this page.

Families who received the vouchers at Christmas should not reapply as it could cause a delay in them receiving their vouchers.

The electronic vouchers can be spent in a range of supermarkets and are available to the families of pupils entitled to benefit-related free school meals, as well as parents who receive free childcare for two-year-olds, where benefits are such that they would have been entitled to free school meals.

The scheme is part of a wide range of community support for vulnerable families including FOOD clubs, food banks, welfare and financial support.

Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We are doing our utmost to ensure that no child in Bath and North East Somerset goes hungry, so I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to extend the voucher scheme to cover the February school holidays for families whose children are eligible for free school meals.

“If you received the vouchers at Christmas, you do not need to do anything – you will get an email from us to arrange to get your electronic vouchers to you. Please don’t apply again as that could mean your vouchers are delayed. However, if you think you’re eligible and haven’t previously applied, please do so via our website as soon as possible.”

The scheme is funded from the Government’s Covid Winter Grant Scheme. There are currently more than 4,000 children in Bath and North East Somerset who receive benefit-related free school meals.

3SG and St John’s Foundation have already allocated £55,000 from a local fundraising appeal to community-led food projects serving communities of high-need across Bath and North East Somerset.

There is also community support for families:

• Anyone finding it hard to stay afloat on their food budget can contact their nearest FOOD Club or Pantry for an affordable way to supplement a weekly shop. Details can be found on the BANES Foodfinder at www.banesfoodfinder.org.uk/listing/food-clubs-pantries
• Details of food banks across BANES are also on that link and they can tell you how to access a voucher to meet more urgent need.
• Anyone in need of support around food, money, debt, mental health, housing or employment is encouraged to contact the Community Wellbeing Hub, by calling 0300 247 0050 or email at BATHNES.thehub@virgincare.co.uk, where you will be connected to a wide range of support under one roof.
• Alternatively, the Welfare Support team can offer short-term, financial crisis support and are contactable on 01225 477 277 or email at welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk.
• A searchable and comprehensive online listing of a wide range of community support across BANES can be found on the One Big Database at  www.bathnes1bd.org.uk

Feeding Britain is an independent charity working towards the UK becoming hunger-free www.feedingbritain.org