Children receiving free school meals to be given £15 a week vouchers over summer

Children who live in Hull and are currently receiving free school meals will be given vouchers of £15 a week throughout the summer holidays.

Around 12,500 families currently receive free school meals in Hull. These families will be sent a text or an email asking them to choose the supermarket of their choice, and vouchers for their chosen supermarket will then be sent directly to the family.

Councillor Shane McMurray, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services said: “Many families rely on free school meals, and the summer holidays can put a huge strain on family budgets. Not only will we be providing a range of activities for children and young people, but we are pleased we can also help families with vouchers for meals. This will mean that during the long holiday children can be healthier and happier.”

The summer vouchers will be funded through the Covid local support grant scheme, aimed predominantly at supporting families with children, to help with food and fuel.

Hull City Council continues to work with primary and secondary schools via the Learning Partnership to develop a city-wide approach to keeping children safe, supporting learning and providing access to school for children of key workers and those who are considered to be vulnerable.