A Helping Hand at half term for families in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council is providing £30 digital food vouchers to families with children eligible for free school meals this February 2022 half term school holiday.

This scheme is funded from the Government’s Household Support Fund Grant – which was launched to enable households/families to receive additional support during the winter period up to Thursday 31st March 2022.

Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘We know that this time of year can be a stretch on household finances and the rising fuel costs are adding to this challenge. To help with this, we are providing a £30 digital food voucher to each eligible child for use over the half term period so that families have more money to pay for other essential bills.

The digital food vouchers can be redeemed at one or more of the following stores: Asda, Aldi, Farmfoods, M&S Food, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.‘

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘Our Helping Hand team is available to direct people to the support that is right for them. This may be from the voluntary or community sector or direct from ourselves.

If anyone is worried about access to food, fuel or other essentials, and not sure what help is available, please contact our Helping Hand support line on 01296 531151 or through our online form and we will be able to help.‘

Buckinghamshire has a strong voluntary and community sector which has been active in supporting families and households during the pandemic. As well as digital food vouchers, a wide range of groups are providing residents additional support and guidance. To find out what is available in your area, please enter your postcode into the Bucks Online Directory which is available on the Buckinghamshire Council website.

The £30 digital food vouchers will be made available to families with children eligible for pupil premium, early years pupil premium or 2-year-old funded free education places for the February 2022 half term school holiday.

Families will be emailed a unique code enabling them to access their voucher(s). Families needing help to access their code or vouchers, should go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/housing-and-benefits/support-with-food-bills-and-finances.

Further information on the Household Support Fund Grant can be found at on the Gov.uk website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.