Peterborough: Easter holiday food vouchers for families

The £30 vouchers will be sent automatically to eligible families using school data and information held by the city council.

Vouchers will be distributed to families with children and young people who receive income-related free school meals (children and young people aged four to 16), early years Pupil Premium under income-based criteria and funded childcare and education for two-year-olds.

Approximately 13,000 children and young people are eligible for the vouchers which are being funded by the government's Household Support Grant.

The city council is urging families to check whether they may be eligible for free school meals during term time.

Any child who becomes eligible up until April 12 will also receive vouchers.

The Easter holiday food voucher will be sent via email or text to the nominated parent or carer in the form of e-vouchers.

Both will be sent out on Saturday, March 30, 2024 and should arrive by 9pm.

All vouchers must be claimed by the 12 April 2024.

Councillor Ray Bisby, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for Children’s Services and Education said: “I am delighted that the government has extended this scheme to enable vulnerable families to receive supermarket vouchers to help them with the costs of feeding their children over the school Easter holidays.

“I would urge anyone who is eligible for the scheme but has not already signed up to please consider doing so. These school holiday vouchers have helped thousands of families across the city. The free school meals scheme not only helps families saving around £450 a year per child but also helps their child's primary school receive much-needed additional funding."

Families currently paying for school meals would save around £450 a year for each primary school child if they were entitled to free school meals.

Providing free school meals can also add up to £1,500 a year in government funding to a school’s budget.