Help for Cambridgeshire families continues in summer holiday

The supermarket voucher scheme aimed at helping families will operate again during the summer holidays for all those who are eligible in Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire County Council is continuing to run the scheme throughout the six-week break using the Household Support Fund from the Department for Work and Pensions, with additional funding provided by the council.

The council will issue the family of each eligible child or young person with two £37.50 vouchers via email and/or text. The first voucher was due to be sent at the weekend (July 20) and the second is due on Saturday, August 10.

Any children who become eligible up until September 2 will also receive vouchers. All vouchers must be claimed by 3pm on Friday October 4.

The voucher scheme has been a huge success since it was introduced and is appreciated by families struggling in the current financial climate.

Details of how to apply for income-related Free School Meals – and therefore be eligible for the supermarket vouchers - can be found the council’s website with a simple application form which only requires a few details for an instant eligibility check. Each successful application will also bring up to £1,500 additional funding for your child’s school.

In addition to the holiday voucher scheme, there is further support available in response to the cost of living, details of which are also available on the website.

Councillor Bryony Goodliffe, chair of Cambridgeshire’s children and young people committee said: “I am proud that we are able to continue providing supermarket vouchers to eligible families. We know from the feedback we receive how grateful they are as the pressures from the rising cost of living continue to bite.

“Many families worry about how they will feed their children during the summer holiday when they have been eligible for free school meals during term time, and the voucher scheme helps them with this – while enabling them to buy wholesome and healthy food at the same time. This is all part of our ambition to be a fairer and more caring council.”