Council announces £15 food voucher scheme

Food vouchers will be offered by Slough Borough Council to children who rely on free school meals over the school holidays.

The council said on Tuesday it was ‘formulating’ plans to provide additional support for struggling families over the Christmas period and praised voluntary groups for stepping in to help during half-term.

But it has now announced £15 food vouchers will be available for every Slough child who currently receives free school meals at a Slough or out-of-borough school.

About 3,600 children in Slough currently claim free school meals.

Parents can claim a £15 voucher for each child who is eligible for free school meals until 4.45pm on Friday, November 6.

Vouchers will be provided as hard copies or via email and can be used to purchase food items at any Sainsbury’s store.

Parents will need to provide proof of their child’s eligibility for free school meals, including details of one of the following:

Income support Income based Jobseekers Allowance

Income related Employment Support Allowance

Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190

Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Universal Credit (but your household income must include earnings of less than £7,400 a year after tax)

Claims can be made online at tinyurl.com /y5zdvdpv through the local welfare provision form stating 'children’s food vouchers’ in the ‘more information’ section. Alternatively, call 01753 875111.