More families across Sefton will receive free school meal support this Christmas

An additional 130 children in the borough have now been identified as eligible for free school meals after a data exercise carried out by the council.

As a result, those children will receive supermarket vouchers to help support families over the Christmas holidays.

Sefton Council is continuing its holiday voucher scheme for children who receive free school meals, with eligible families given £15 per child per week. The vouchers are distributed through schools and can be used in supermarkets or online to buy food and everyday essentials.

More than 9,000 families across Sefton have already benefited from the scheme, which is funded through the council’s Household Support Fund.

Councillor Diane Roscoe, cabinet member for children, schools and families, said the support helps ensure children have access to healthy meals not just during term time but throughout the school holidays as well.

Councillor Liz Dowd, cabinet member for communities and partnership engagement, said the council’s use of data has helped identify more children in need of support, adding that schools could also receive additional pupil premium funding to provide extra resources for pupils from low-income households.

Alongside financial support, Sefton Council’s Family Hubs are running a programme of activities for young people over the school holidays. Details of events and timetables can be found on the council’s Family Hubs webpages.

More information about cost of living support available in Sefton is also available via the council’s website.

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