• Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Bath Echo
  • Monday 25th January 2021
  • Subscribe
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Letters
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Editions
Bath Echo

Bath, GB

  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Home
News Headlines
Politics

Free school meal vouchers issued to more than 3,500 children across B&NES

Monday 11th January 2021 Bath Echo News Team Bath Echo News Team Community, Politics

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share

Nearly 2,500 families across Bath & North East Somerset have benefited from a scheme to provide £40 supermarket vouchers over the Christmas period to feed children in need.

Bath & North East Somerset Council processed a total of 2,439 applications, with most of the 3,750 vouchers issued in the three weeks before Christmas.

The electronic vouchers can be spent in a range of supermarkets and were available to the families of pupils entitled to benefit-related free school meals, as well as parents who receive free childcare for two-year-olds, where benefits are such that they would have been entitled to free school meals.

The Government has announced that a national voucher scheme will be in place so that all eligible children can access free school meals in term time while schools remain closed.

During term time it is the responsibility of schools to ensure that provision is made for children who qualify for free school meals.

For February school holidays, the council will be extending its voucher scheme as part of a wide range of community support for vulnerable families, including FOOD clubs, food banks, welfare and financial support.

Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We are always working to ensure that parents are able to put food on the table so I’m delighted that our voucher scheme has made a difference to so many families this Christmas.

“We are planning on running a similar scheme in February and we are looking at how we can cover the Easter holidays too.”

Councillor Rob Appleyard, cabinet member for Adult Services and Public Health said: “Making sure families in need received these essential vouchers quickly was a huge task and is testament to the dedication of the council teams involved.

“Staff were pleased to receive a letter from Feeding Britain which told them how “awestruck we have been by the work you undertook with B&NES Food Poverty Steering Group against such a challenging backdrop this year”, which is a worthy acknowledgement of all their hard work.

“I’d also personally like to thank all the volunteers in B&NES who help with community food projects.”

The scheme is funded from the Government’s Covid Winter Grant Scheme. There are currently more than 4,000 children in Bath and North East Somerset who receive benefit-related free school meals.

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share
  • Source Bath & North East Somerset Council
Next article Additional COVID-19 vaccinations centres begin to open across the region
Previous article First Bus introduces service alterations to reflect reduced local demand

Related Stories

Locals being reminded about once-a-decade census taking place this March
Friday 22nd January 2021

Locals being reminded about once-a-decade census taking place this March

Additional alterations announced for First Bus services operating across Bath
Friday 22nd January 2021

Additional alterations announced for First Bus services operating across Bath

Countdown is on to the introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone this March
Thursday 21st January 2021

Countdown is on to the introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone this March

...
Followers
Follow
...
Likes
Like
...
Followers
Follow

Top Stories

Residents urged to play their part to protect NHS as demand continues to rise

Residents urged to play their part to protect NHS as demand continues to rise

Friday 22nd January 2021
Locals being reminded about once-a-decade census taking place this March

Locals being reminded about once-a-decade census taking place this March

Friday 22nd January 2021
Additional alterations announced for First Bus services operating across Bath

Additional alterations announced for First Bus services operating across Bath

Friday 22nd January 2021
Royal United Hospital in the running to secure up to £450 million in funding

Royal United Hospital in the running to secure up to £450 million in funding

Friday 22nd January 2021
Countdown is on to the introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone this March

Countdown is on to the introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone this March

Thursday 21st January 2021
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
  • Back to top
Created by Media Bath - Regulated by IMPRESS

About the Bath Echo | Your City, Your News

We're your local independent newspaper covering news and events across beautiful Bath and the close surrounding villages. We're here to help keep Bathonians in the know about what's going on in their city.

Useful Info

  • House Rules
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Social Media Policy
© Bath Echo 2021. All rights reserved.
Produced by Media Bath Limited
The Bath Echo website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Okay Find Out More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.