Peterborough City Council to provide vouchers to children who receive free school meals during half term

The £15 supermarket vouchers will be issued automatically by the 12th February ready for use during the half term week. Vouchers will be sent by email and text message to parents/carers.

Cambridgeshire County Council will also be issuing the vouchers.

Jonathan Lewis, Director for Education for Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, said: “Along with exercise, nutritious meals are essential for a child’s health, wellbeing and cognition. Satisfying hunger is a basic need and no child should ever have to go hungry. We recognise the extra financial pressures some families are facing due to COVID-19, and by providing them with Free School Meal vouchers during half term will hopefully alleviate some of those worries.

“There are several additional ways we are providing support to families, and I would like to encourage families to reach out to their child’s school if they have any questions about the support that may be available to them via the Winter Grant Scheme.”

If you have not previously applied for Free School Meals, and you feel you now meet the below criteria, please visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals to apply.

Eligibility criteria for vouchers

Children will be automatically issued with free school meal vouchers if the parent/carer receive any of the following:

Income Support

Income Based Job Seekers Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Child Tax Credit - but no element of Working Tax Credit - and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)) that does not exceed £16,190

If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Working Tax Credit during the four week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work less hours per week

Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400

Vouchers will be provided to families via the councils Winter Grant Scheme. For further information about the Winter Grant Scheme and the support available during this challenging period, please visit the following webpages: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/wintersupport / https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/wintersupport

If parent/carers do not wish to receive a food voucher, please let your school know as soon as possible so that we can reallocate the voucher to someone else in need.

Jonathan Lewis, Director for Education for Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, said: “Along with exercise, nutritious meals are essential for a child’s health, wellbeing and cognition. Satisfying hunger is a basic need and no child should ever have to go hungry. We recognise the extra financial pressures some families are facing due to COVID-19, and by providing them with Free School Meal vouchers during half term will hopefully alleviate some of those worries.

“There are several additional ways we are providing support to families, and I would like to encourage families to reach out to their child’s school if they have any questions about the support that may be available to them via the Winter Grant Scheme.”