Food vouchers to help city's 'vulnerable' families

The supermarket vouchers will be sent out on October 26

"Vulnerable families" will get supermarket food vouchers during the half-term holiday, a council has said.

According to Peterborough City Council, about 13,000 children and young people in its area are eligible for the £15 vouchers.

The authority is urging families who may be entitled to take part in the initiative - but who are not already signed up - to do so as soon as possible.

The cabinet member for children’s services, Katy Cole, said "The supermarket voucher scheme has helped thousands of vulnerable families in Peterborough."

Using school data and information held by the council, vouchers will be sent automatically to eligible families on 26 October.

They must be claimed by midday on Friday 19 November.

They will go to families who receive, on income-based criteria:

• free school meals (children aged four to 16)

• early years pupil premium

• funded childcare and education for two-year-olds

Cllr Cole said she was "delighted" the authority was continuing to offer the vouchers during the half-term break.

"I would urge anyone who is eligible for the scheme but has not already signed up to please consider doing so as soon as possible.

"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," she said.

The council said the government's Household Support Fund, which covers the scheme, had been extended until March 2025.