Free school meals support for February half term doubled for families in Northumberland

The county council has committed £275,000 to ensure those 9,186 pupils will get an additional £15, for a total of £30, during the week starting Monday, February 15.

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, the cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We are topping up the Government’s winter grant funding to give those children and young people eligible for free school meals additional help during the half-term break.

“We recognise how difficult it can be for some families in the county at this time and we are committed to doing all we can to support them.”

Since the start of the year, there have been 160 additional applications for free school meals in the county.

Cath McEvoy-Carr, the council’s executive director for children’s services, added: “It has been a really difficult year for many, and personal circumstances may have changed. This is exactly why this support is there, to support those families who need it right now.

“I am really pleased that we as a council can bolster the winter grant funding for the half-term break and I strongly urge anyone who may be eligible to apply.”

At the Thursday, February 4, meeting of the authority’s family and children’s services committee, members received an update on the provision of free school meals over the Christmas holidays.

As previously reported, there were three methods of delivery put in place after the Government opted to provide the winter grant funding rather than the vouchers it had provided over holidays during the first phase of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Some schools continued using their own systems, while the council set up a centrally-funded voucher scheme using a national provider. Finally, recognising that many rural communities rely on the Co-op, which is not involved in any of the national voucher schemes, the provision of Co-op giftcards was another option.

The meeting heard that following a successful demonstration to schools of the chosen Huggg voucher system, 134 or 80% of them opted to use this approach, leaving 32 (19%) with their own set-ups and just two (1%) with Co-op vouchers.

A total of 6,221 vouchers were issued, at a value of £186,630, and by the end of January, when their eligibility ended, 93% had been redeemed – the highest take-up of all of the local authorities using Huggg.

Presenting the report, the council’s head of school resources, Sue Aviston, said: “We feel this has been a great success for Northumberland. In many cases, what a lifesaver it has been for some of our families.”

Cllrs Scott Dickinson and Deirdre Campbell, both of the Labour opposition, paid ‘credit where credit’s due’ for how the council has provided this support.

Those not in receipt of free school meals who think they may be eligible can apply online at https://tinyurl.com/3exuhonf

Anyone not eligible, but who is feeling financial pressure may be able to receive support from the Northumberland Communities Together Team. Contact 01670 620015, from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week, or [email protected]

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper. If you can, please do pick up a copy when you are at the shops. Thank you for your support.