Thousands of Oldham families will get financial help for food over the October half-term.
Food vouchers of £15 per week for each eligible child and young person will be available for families of children eligible for means tested free school meals, families on low incomes with pre-school children aged 0-5 (using Free School Meal eligibility criteria) and for Care Leavers under 25.
Young people eligible for free school meals at Oldham College and Oldham Sixth Form College will also be supported as part of the initiative.
Oldham Council has been allocated £2.4 million of funding to support vulnerable residents through its Household Support Fund. Some of this funding will be used to cover food voucher support for children eligible for means tested Free School Meals over the October half-term holiday 2021. School holiday food voucher support will also be available over the Christmas 2021 holiday and February 2022 half term.
Vulnerable families with children and young people have received food vouchers over the school holiday periods in Oldham since December 2020.
Families do not need to apply for the vouchers, and the council say it is working with Oldham schools and colleges to identify eligible families and issue the vouchers through an online system that was successfully used before.
The families with pre-school children and care leavers will be written to directly with the vouchers.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Ensuring our borough’s children get fed properly is not something we must ever compromise on. The food vouchers we’re providing will support those most at need over the October half term.
“These vouchers are only part of the way we’re helping our residents get through what is a difficult time for many. We’re doing everything we can to help including providing support for heating homes, offering debt advice and giving out local welfare support to help those in emergency situations by providing them with essential goods and supplies.”
For any families that are really struggling for food and provisions over the school holiday, visit www.oldham.gov.uk/wecanhelp which lists financial support and benefits that are available for residents.
For people in emergency need, there is the Oldham Council emergency helpline - 0161 770 7007.
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