Struggling Slough parents will be offered £15 food vouchers to help feed their children who receive free school meals.

Slough Borough Council announced they are offering vouchers – which can be used to purchase food items at any Sainsbury’s store – for every child who currently receives free school meals at a Slough or out-of-borough school.

Parents can claim a £15 voucher for each child between 9am today (October 29) and 4.45pm next Friday (November 6).

Claims can be made online at http://www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/local-welfare-provision.aspx or call 01753 475111.

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Parents will need to provide proof of their child’s eligibility for free school meals including details of one of the following:

  • Income support
  • Income based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income related Employment Support Allowance
  • Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit (but your household income must include earnings of less than £7,400 a year after tax)

Vouchers will be provided as hard copies or via email.

Councillor Martin Carter, lead member for education and children, said: “Though amazing volunteers in the community are offering free food to children during half term, we as a council, want to do our bit to help struggling families in these very difficult times.

“Following the government decision on food during half term we have been working through how we could step in and step up and introduce a system as swiftly as we could.

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“I would urge all parents whose children receive free school meals to apply for these vouchers and I hope they ease the pressure many parents are feeling deciding how and on what to spend what little money they have.

“This is about helping our local children and young people in all the ways we can, when times are tougher for many Slough people than they have ever been.”

The Food Poverty Task and Finish Group – part of the neighbourhoods and communities scrutiny committee – concluded their investigation on food poverty in Slough and produced a report – which has been submitted to cabinet.

Cabinet have requested longer-term plans, including proposals for food provision for children during the school holidays, and a follow-up report is expected later this year.