COVID-19 Winter Grant Scheme and free school meals
27 November, 5pm
Winter Grant Scheme
On 8 November, Government announced a package of extra targeted financial support for those in need over the winter period. £2.49 million has been allocated for Hertfordshire out of the the COVID-19 Winter Grant Scheme to support those most in need with the cost of food, energy, water bills and other associated costs. We are now working to roll out 3 different strands of support:
- A supermarket voucher scheme for children entitled to free school meals for Christmas 2020 and February 2021 half-term
- Non-food offer for households with children
- Food, bills and crisis support offer for individuals and households without children
Free school meals
We (Hertfordshire County Council) have teamed up with the Family Food Trust, a government backed charity, to deliver food vouchers to children and young people in receipt of free school meals this Christmas holiday and in February 2021 half-term.
A total of £30 per entitled child will be provided for the Christmas holidays (10 days) and £15 per child for the February 2021 half-term (5 days). Families will receive support for each of these holidays separately, before the end of each term.
This support is not available for children entitled to Universal Infant Free School Meals, but entitled children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 will receive a voucher.
The electronic vouchers for food and groceries can be downloaded and used in 4 major supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s) and will be sent to families directly by email or if necessary, they can be printed, and we will distribute them.
Families who do not qualify for free school meals but are worried about their finances or having enough food this winter can contact HertsHelp, email info@hertshelp.net, call 0300 123 4044 or visit the HertsHelp website.