Sutton Council has approved funding so that food vouchers continue to be made available in school holidays throughout the year, for children who qualify for benefits-related free school meals.
The move came after the Housing, Economy and Business Committee on 21 March approved the use of the Government’s Household Support Fund to provide food vouchers for all school holidays up to February 2024 half term. It was agreed as part of a package of support for Sutton’s most vulnerable households.
Schools will distribute vouchers to eligible families for the Easter break by 31 March.
At the meeting, the Committee agreed to approve funding of £1.3million, which means that Sutton families who qualify for free school meals can be safe in the knowledge that food vouchers will be provided for all school holidays throughout the year.
Deputy Leader for the London Borough of Sutton, and Chair of Housing, Economy and Business Committee, Councillor David Bartolucci, said:
“We know that the rising cost of living is impacting families on lower incomes. This funding will ensure that no child in Sutton will go hungry during the school holidays.
“We took decisive action last year to ensure children on free school meals didn’t go hungry over the holiday periods. Whilst we welcome the Mayor of London’s announcement that all primary school meals will be subsidised for a year, Sutton Council will continue to prioritise funding to ensure our children at both primary and secondary school age have access to activities and food outside of the school term, when we know families feel the additional pressure.”
