As several councils continue to come under fire for failing to support families struggling to make ends meet over the long summer holiday, Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) has confirmed that it will provide food vouchers this summer for families whose children are eligible for benefit-related free school meals. Families will receive £3 per child per day – above the amount currently spent on free school meals during term time (£2.35 per day) and in line with the vouchers supplied nationally by the government in 2020. They can be spent at supermarkets.

In total, around 7,000 children in Central Bedfordshire will receive this support. Eligible families should have been contacted already, but you can visit http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/HSG to check if you qualify.

Any child eligible for benefit-related free school meals can also access CBC’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which is funded by the Department for Education and provides free, fun activities for children who are in Reception right through to Year 11. All children who attend face-toface activities will be provided with healthy snacks and lunch. Sessions are inclusive so are suitable for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). For more information about HAF, visit https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/holiday-activities.