Vulnerable families to receive supermarket vouchers for October half-term

Wednesday, 20 October 2021 10:36

Thousands of families across Bradford district will get financial help this October half term funded by national Government.

The council will give food vouchers to low-income families with school-age children to help parents with the costs of shopping for food for their children over the school holiday.

Vouchers of £20 for each eligible child and young person will be provided to families in receipt of council tax reduction. More than 26,000 children and young people are set to be supported by the vouchers which can be can be used at a wide range of local supermarkets.

Families do not need to apply for the vouchers. Families who are eligible will be contacted directly by the council, by letter. The letters should be received by October 27.

A similar scheme ran over the school holidays in the summer.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “Ensuring no child goes hungry in our district is an absolute priority for us. The money the Government has provided has arrived at very short notice, just before the October half-term so the Council has had to turn some of the funding quickly into vouchers for eligible residents.

“School holidays always put extra pressure on household budgets so it’s important we provide low-income families with a contribution to those additional costs whilst times are so hard.

“We know that many in our communities continue to be hard hit by the effects of the pandemic but on top of that the Government’s £20 a week cut to Universal Credit has come at a very bad time for hard-pressed families. In total this Government decision will take away £67 million from residents in the Bradford district. The Government grant for the Council to distribute to residents to compensate for this cut is just £5.7 million."

The funding runs to the end of March 2022 and is aimed at helping those who are struggling to afford food, energy and water bills, and other related essentials.

Details of further support for households and individuals will be announced in due course

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