Families of 8,000 Hartlepool youngsters to receive food vouchers to tackle Christmas holiday hunger

About 8,000 children and young people in the town are set to be helped by the vouchers being funded through the Government’s £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme which aims to support local authorities to help the hardest-hit families and individuals in their areas.

Youngsters who would normally receive free school meals will qualify for a £30 voucher, while those living in low-income families in receipt of Local Council Tax Support will get a £15 voucher.

Hartlepool Borough Council officials say families who are eligible should receive them through their children’s school or in the post to their home later next week (December 14).

The local authority asks people not to contact them unless they do not receive their vouchers by Thursday, December 17.

Penny Thompson, the Council’s Head of Service – The Children’s Hub and Partnerships, said: “Staff are extremely busy arranging for vouchers to be sent out and we would ask that people bear with us and don’t call us right now.

“However, if vouchers haven’t been received towards the end of next week then please get in touch on the number.”

The vouchers are replacing the council’s Filling the Holiday Gap scheme this year which previously provided grants to community, voluntary, statutory and charitable groups to provide food to young people as part of their school holiday activity programmes.

Anyone eligible who does not receive their vouchers by December 17 should call the council on (01429) 523469.

It comes after England and Manchester United star Marcus Rashford launched a petition calling for youngsters in impoverished families to get free meals during school holidays.

Figures show that 337 people in Hartlepool were among the 300,000 nationally who signed the petition.

It called for free school meals to be extended to every child from a household on Universal Credit or an equivalent benefit, and for them to be provided throughout holidays as well as during term time.

A Labour motion was initially voted down on the proposal in the House of Commons before a Government u-turn saw Boris Johnson support the call.

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