Support for Low-Income Families During Easter Holidays
Low-income families in Somerset will be able to receive assistance with food expenses during the Easter holidays. Somerset Council has announced that families can apply for supermarket vouchers via the Citizens Advice Somerset website.
This announcement follows the council's decision to conclude its previous scheme, which provided vouchers to all families with children eligible for benefits-related free school meals during every school holiday over the past five years.
Concerns Over Application Process
Matt Vella, head teacher of St Michael's Academy in Yeovil, where nearly 40% of pupils qualify for free school meals, emphasized the importance of making the application process straightforward. He stated that it should be
"as clear and accessible as possible"to prevent any
"added stress"for families.
Council's Response to Government Changes
Councillor Heather Shearer, Liberal Democrat lead member for children, explained that the council needed to
"move quickly"to establish the Easter support scheme. This urgency was due to receiving notification from the government
"very, very late in the day"that the previous support would cease from April.
In contrast, some other local authorities have opted to continue their prior voucher schemes by utilizing new government funding.
Government Funding and Local Authority Discretion
A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions stated that the new national £1 billion Crisis and Resilience fund is intended to serve as a
"genuine safety net helping to prevent families from falling into crises". They added that
"Local authorities will design their schemes with the needs of their area in mind, and this can include using the fund for free school meals during school holidays if they feel that is where support is needed."
Statistics on Free School Meal Eligibility
As of January 2025, there were 15,285 children in Somerset eligible for free school meals, accounting for 21.2% of pupils in the region.
Impact of Previous Voucher Scheme
Matt Vella highlighted that the former holiday voucher scheme ensured families had
"consistent access to nutritious meals"outside of term time. He described his school as serving
"one of the most deprived catchments in Somerset"and previously expressed concern that the change
"would hit the most vulnerable pupils the hardest".
He further noted that the Easter voucher offer is
"hugely valuable, especially at short notice".
Funding Details and Future Support
The previous vouchers were funded by the council through the household support fund (HSF) provided by the government from October 2021 until March 2026. This fund is now being replaced by a crisis and resilience fund, which the government will allocate to local councils over the next three years. Somerset Council has been granted £21 million from this fund for the period.
Councillor Shearer encouraged families who had received vouchers previously to apply for assistance this Easter. She advised them to contact Citizens Advice Somerset either online or by phone, stating,
"We want people who had those vouchers before to have them again this Easter."
Contact and Follow-Up
For further updates, individuals can follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630.
