Over 10,000 children in Milton Keynes helped by free school meal vouchers over October half term

    MK Council secured funding to issue 8,858 supermarket e-vouchers worth £151,275 over the October half term.

    The council says 10,085 children were helped by the vouchers in total.

    Labour Councillor Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “It is at the heart of the Progressive Alliance to tackle child poverty and support our children and young people; I’m so pleased these vouchers were able to help us do that over the half term.”

    Eligible children had access to supermarket vouchers worth £15 to spend on food.

    At least 131 schools and nurseries issued them to families over the half term.

    Previously, the council had secured funding for free school meal vouchers over the summer holidays, alongside their Summer of Play sessions that provided 28,000 healthy meals for children and young people.

    The Progressive Alliance has been working with partners on other initiatives such as :

    • Working to open over 10 community food larders in partnership with SOFEA, Community Fridge and Foodbank Xtra.
    • Launching a school uniform recycling scheme, where uniforms can be bought at a reduced cost.
    • Piloting a childcare deposit scheme to support parents and carers who want to work, but struggle with upfront childcare costs.

    Liberal Democrat Councillor Jane Carr, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Child Poverty, said: “Last year, the Child Poverty Commission found almost 23,000 children were living in poverty in Milton Keynes. This a heart-breaking number, and the Progressive Alliance has been working tirelessly to reduce it.”

    “Tackling child poverty should be the priority of our MPs, and we’re calling on them to fight for a long-term solution to holiday hunger, and to fight for the heartless £20 cut to Universal Credit to be delayed.”

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