Liverpool City Council has pledged that no child will go hungry this Christmas, as it provides £925,000 of free school meal vouchers to 20,000 eligible children.

Families whose children receive free school meals will get supermarket vouchers worth £30 per child, to buy food for the two-week break, paid from the Government’s Covid Winter Grant Scheme.

The vouchers are being delivered to schools from today (Thursday 10 December). Schools will be in touch with eligible parents/carers direct to arrange distribution.

Thanks to this support, struggling families will be given a helping hand over the festive season.

Families of pre-school children are also being offered support. The council will post out £30 vouchers to families with children aged two that receive free early education, as well as to families with children aged under two and between the ages of 3-4, who are in receipt of Council Tax Support. The vouchers will be hitting doormats from Monday 21 December onwards.

Liverpool City Council was awarded £2.4 million in total from the Government to support vulnerable families and individuals between December and March 2021. It can choose how it spends the money, as long as it helps those most in need with essentials like food, energy or water bills. Over £1.3 million of the grant has been set aside for free school meal vouchers to cover the Christmas and February half-term holidays.

Finally, any families whose financial circumstances have changed and who might now have children eligible for free school meals, are urged to apply online through the council’s website as soon as possible, in order to receive help.

Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:

“Liverpool City Council wants to make sure that no child goes without this Christmas, a time which is meant to be full of joy and celebration. But many families in Liverpool have had a difficult year, hit hard by the pandemic, and are struggling to make ends meet. Sadly, they’re worrying about how they will put food on the table, let alone presents under the tree.

So this support should give families and children in need such much-needed cheer.”

There's lots to see and do at Speke Hall this winter.

❄️ >https://t.co/L3nk6nQ8t0 pic.twitter.com/Rj8GcvsPHU

— The Guide Liverpool (@TheGuideLpool) December 10, 2020

Councillor Barbara Murray, Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, said:

“We’re proud to be able to support local children and their families in this way. No families should have to worry about providing food for their children over the holidays. We want to take the pressure off during this difficult time, and encourage anyone with children who might be eligible for free school meals to apply on our website as soon as possible or contact their child’s school for help. Thank you to all of our schools for their amazing support in getting vouchers out to families who need them, in time for Christmas.”

More details can be found here. #EndChildFoodPoverty

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