The supermarket voucher scheme will continue to operate in the October half term for all eligible families in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire County Council will run the scheme until the February 2024 half term using the Household Support Fund from the Department for Work and Pensions and additional funding provided by the Council.
Eligible families will automatically be sent a £15 voucher via email or text on Saturday 21 October. The voucher can be used at a choice of 10 supermarkets.
The voucher scheme has been a huge success since it was introduced and appreciated keenly by families struggling in the current financial climate.
A survey revealed that over 70 per cent of families said the vouchers had helped them cope with the rising cost of living. More than 50 per cent said the scheme had reduced the need for them to seek other sources of support in the school holidays such as food banks.
Over 46 per cent of those responding to the survey said the vouchers had helped them buy healthier food such as fruit and vegetables for their families.
Councillor Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of the County Council’s Children and Young People’s committee said: “I am delighted that we can continue to offer this vital help to eligible families during the October half term. These vouchers really are a lifeline for the many families in Cambridgeshire struggling at the moment – as our surveys have found. Helping families buy healthy food and reduce their reliance on food banks is proof that the scheme is not only valued but also essential and we will continue to run it for as long as we can.”
Comments from eligible families who have received supermarket vouchers as part of the scheme include:
“It makes such a big difference to know I can feed the children healthy food in holiday time - without this help I don’t know how I would manage”
“The holiday voucher scheme has literally been a lifesaver at times, it’s so helpful and definitely needed”
“By having help with the vouchers I can buy fresh food and make healthier meals”
“If it wasn’t for the vouchers I would have definitely had to use a food bank”
“Having the extra voucher support has given us the opportunity to buy more fresh foods to make fresh healthier meals”
“Having four children the scheme has helped my family so much. It is amazing! Thank you so much!”
