Rotherham’s Labour Council has been funding the voucher scheme for families of the 12,000 local children entitled to free school meals since October 2020 when the Conservative Government stopped the scheme.

The Council’s Labour budget committed an extra £2.5m to extend the scheme by a further year, up to and including the Easter school holidays in 2024.

Councillor Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “Since the start of the pandemic we’ve seen the number of children entitled to free school meals increase by more than a third. And the pressure on families has been compounded by a cost-of-living crisis that has led to a sharp increase in household bills and food prices. People are struggling.

“For the last two and half years the Council has continued to prioritise funding for the supermarket voucher scheme. It’s been a lifeline for many families. Eligibility for free school meals is means-tested against strict national criteria, so we know we are targeting support for families in the greatest need – support which we are also committed to continue for the next 12 months.

The vouchers are being distributed by schools on behalf of the Council.

The value of the vouchers equates to £15 per week, the approximate amount it costs to provide a meal for each child when they are in school.