Families in Bath and North East Somerset who receive benefit-related free school meals will continue to be supported with food costs during school holidays until the end of Easter next year.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has secured Government funding that will ensure families will receive supermarket vouchers in school holidays up to and including Easter 2024.

This week, families will have started receiving vouchers worth £90 per child to cover the upcoming summer holidays.

People who received a voucher during the May half term will receive the email automatically and do not need to re-apply. Once families reply to the email to confirm they want the supermarket vouchers, a second email will be sent containing the links to access the vouchers.

If a resident hasn’t received an email from the Council yet, they are advised to first check in their spam and trash folders searching under ‘free school’ before emailing [email protected] or calling 01225 477277 (option 1).

Families who are eligible for benefit related free school meals but have not claimed a voucher previously can make a claim through Council’s free school meals vouchers web portal.

Cllr Paul May, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We are pleased to have secured this funding to help children who are most in need.

“Many families with children in receipt of free school meals struggle with extra food costs in school holidays, so these vouchers will help lessen the financial load. Anyone in emergency need can also access other types of local food support via our Welfare Support Team and the Community Wellbeing Hub.”