Council extends free school meals in Hertfordshire until next summer after £2.5m government grant

Hertfordshire County Council will deliver food vouchers during the school holidays this winter following the Government’s grant of nearly £2.5m to Hertfordshire.

The council will be providing food vouchers to the value of £15 per week for each child in Hertfordshire that receives free school meals during the school holidays from Christmas until the summer half term next year.

After Marcus Rashford led national calls for the ‘free school meals’ scheme to be extended into holiday periods, as it was when schools were closed during the last ‘lockdown’, the Prime Minister announced new funding and the Covid Winter Grant Scheme will distribute £170m to support children, families and the most vulnerable over winter. Read full story hereCllr David Williams, leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “We have always said that no child or vulnerable household should go hungry during this pandemic and the money from government will help us deliver on that pledge.

"Thanks to our effective financial management and strong lobbying of Government I am delighted that we have been able to secure sufficient funds to support those in need.

"We also welcome the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme for the Easter, Summer and Christmas 2021 school holidays and the opportunity that this will provide to build on the innovative Fit, Fed and Read Programme that has been delivered since 2018 in conjunction with Hertfordshire Sports Partnership."

Fit, Fed and Read school holiday activity programmes operate across Hertfordshire during the school Easter and summer holidays, for more information click here.