Eligible children to receive free school meals throughout February half term

All children eligible for free school meals in Thurrock schools will once again be supported throughout the upcoming February half term with each receiving a weekly £15 supermarket voucher.

Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Education, said; “For two weeks in December last year the council supported thousands of eligible children across the borough with free school meals, and I am proud to say that we are once again delivering on this promise during February half term this year.

“Thanks to the £524k Government COVID-19 Winter Grant Scheme we are able to provide our most vulnerable children and young people with access to supermarket vouchers that can be used for lunchtime meals for children as would typically be provided at school. We have been working closely with schools to ensure that more than 6,400 food vouchers are ordered are distributed on time to our children and young people.

“Whilst we face the many ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are determined to once again ensure that our vulnerable children and young people will not go without during the school holidays.”