Thank you for your interest in this story
To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
07
May 2021
County council to offer food vouchers this May half-term
North Yorkshire County Council will offer food vouchers to parents who need them during May half-term.
The council has begun sending out supermarket vouchers to schools, including academies, as well as early years providers, childminders and care leavers in North Yorkshire.
The vouchers are worth £15 per child for the week.
The scheme is an extension of the government's Covid Winter Grant Scheme that provided the vouchers to parents and carers in receipt of free school meals.
NYCC has received up to £338,000 which it estimates will benefit up to 20,000 children across the county.
Stuart Carlton, corporate director of children and young people’s services, said:
Read more:
Harrogate shop ‘blown away’ by free school meals support
What is the situation in the Harrogate district on free school meals?
To qualify for free school meals a parent must apply to North Yorkshire County Council with evidence that they are receiving a benefit, such as Child Tax Credit, Income Support, or Universal Credit.
The Stray Ferret revealed in December that since January 2018, the number of children in the district receiving free school meals has increased by more than 58%.
The issue of free school meals rocketed up the political agenda last year following a high-profile campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
0