FAMILIES with children at school or college on free school meals will receive £75 per student as an assistance payment.

The majority of payments will be in the form of vouchers and will be administered by schools and colleges prior the summer holidays.

Lowest income families with pre-school children in the borough will also receive a £75 voucher. These payments will be issued by the Council to eligible households identified from Council Tax Support records between July – September 2021.

A further category will be for care leavers who require additional support.

The funding has come from the Department for Work and Pensions to assist low-income families in purchasing food and essentials over the summer period.

A total of 5,974 students currently receiving free school meals from Schools and Colleges will be assisted. An estimated 400 pre-school age children living in the lowest income households in the borough will also be assisted.

Councillor Alison Barnes, Cabinet Member for Children, said: “No child in our borough should be hungry or inadequately clothed. If you are a family who are going through a tough time financially, please make sure that you accept this offer to which you are entitled.”