Sefton Council has confirmed that it will provide free school meals funding over summer

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing has today written to the Borough’s headteachers to confirm funding for free school meals over the six-week school summer holidays.

In her letter, Cllr Hardy explains that the scheme to support children and families who receive free school meals will, once again, work through the provision of supermarket vouchers. As with previous holiday vouchers, they will be valid to buy food in store and online at local supermarkets.

Cllr Hardy said:

“We know that many families across the Borough will be facing difficulties in the long summer holidays, particularly with the additional challenges that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up for people over the last year or more.

“I am pleased that Sefton Council is able to help ease at least some of these difficulties by providing this support to families over the six-week.”

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing

The scheme is available to children and families across Sefton who currently receive free school meals. Any that do not receive free school meals now but think they might be eligible can visit www.sefton.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals to find out whether they qualify and how to apply.

In her letter, Cllr Hardy thanks headteachers and their staff you all their hard work in the past 12 months doing their best to keep our children safe and to continue to delivering education and emotional support. But she also explains that this is likely the last time that the Council can use fund free school meals in this way.

Cllr Hardy said:

“This time we are, once again, using the Covid Local Support Grant, formerly known as Covid Winter Grant Funding to fund free school meal vouchers over the summer.

“However, we have received some funding from the Department for Education to put in place a Holiday Activity and Food Programme through future Christmas and summer for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. The programme will be optional for eligible children to attend.”