REFORM COUNCILLORS STOP HOLIDAY FOOD VOUCHERS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY.

REFORM COUNCILLORS STOP HOLIDAY FOOD VOUCHERS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY

The Reform-led East Sussex County Council has chosen to stop providing holiday supermarket vouchers to families eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Cllr Kathryn Field, Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group explains:

“The government has provided money through a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to enable support to continue to families who are most in need.  The Reform Cabinet has chosen to discontinue the provision of vouchers to ensure that children can be fed during the school holidays.  Families eligible for benefits-related free school meals can access free activities and nutritious meals through the Holiday Activity and Food programme.

However, we are concerned that the most isolated and vulnerable families and children may not access this support meaning that there is a risk that children will go hungry over the holiday period.

It is a matter of concern that this early decision by the Reform Cabinet is one that is detrimental to the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable residents and we hope that this does not set a pattern for future decisions.”

Cllr Peter Diplock, Liberal Democrat opposition spokesperson for Children and Families adds:

“The County Council does not appear to have done any impact study on how children would be affected before making this decision.  Several neighbouring local authorities have either made local budget allocations or restructured their hardship schemes to maintain food voucher provision for low-income families over school holidays, rightly seeing this as a core anti-poverty measure.

Even Reform-led Kent County Council maintained a targeted holiday voucher system.  This seems to give a very clear message about the approach Reform will take in East Sussex towards people who are struggling”.

Cllr Kathryn Field

Cllr Peter Diplock