Thousands of families in Sefton are set to receive a “lifeline” amid the cost of living crisis.
Meal vouchers worth £15 will be made available to 9,000 families in the borough eligible for free school meals this half term, as a senior councillor warned many are facing a “cost of surviving crisis” this winter.
Sefton Council’s cabinet member for communities and housing Cllr Trish Hardy said she families will be able to use the vouchers in supermarkets across Sefton to purchase food and essentials only and can also buy items online.
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Cllr Hardy said that although the council has been providing half term vouchers for several years now, this year families are facing a “double whammy” due to spiralling bills and prices.
She said: “Even though the Government eventually agreed to providing households with a loan to keep bills down for now, families across Sefton are facing a cost of living crisis.
“Or what must, for those facing choices between heating or eating, feel more like a cost of surviving crisis.”
While the vouchers can be used in supermarkets across the borough, they can only be spent on essentials and cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, lottery, phone top-ups or stamps.
Cllr Hardy also spoke of research by PWC on behalf of charity Impact on Urban Health, indicating that expansion of free school meals could actually generate over £40b nationally for the economy.
She said: “Our main aim in providing this holidays support has been to feed children in Sefton and prevent the long-term health problems that a poor nourishment can cause, even when the Government has appeared reluctant to do so.
“However, these new findings should encourage our growth-focused Prime Minister to expand the scheme in the future to ensure that no child goes hungry in Sefton or anywhere else, and that the economy benefits at the same time.”
The council have recently produced a dedicated web page which includes information about how to apply for free school meals and sources of support during the cost of living crisis,which can be found on the council’s website.
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