The Government’s Covid Winter Support Grant, worth over £880,000 is being distributed by Cheshire East Council, working closely with schools, colleges, pre-schools, nurseries and family support providers to the Borough’s most vulnerable children and families. This equates to over 22,000 food and energy vouchers distributed so far to Cheshire East families with a further £300,000 being provided by Government to enable the scheme to cover the Easter Holidays.
This is an on-going extension of the work undertaken over the summer and autumn last year where the Government provided £330,000 for "Food and Essential Supplies Funding" over the summer and October half-term holidays. Information gathered at that time has helped Cheshire East identify more than 9,000 vulnerable children and young people, including those eligible for income-related free school meals.
Professionals are able to request support for families that need it whilst any families in need are asked to speak to someone they are working with ( for example their GP, teacher or support worker), who can request the vouchers on their behalf.
Plans are also being finalised to introduce additional support via the Holiday Activity Fund, an additional government grant that aims to ensure that vulnerable children and young people eat more healthily, are more active over the school holidays, learn about health nutrition and enjoy time with other children in a safe environment.
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For more information on the scheme, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme/co…
The £170 million COVID Winter Grant Scheme was made available in early December 2020 to support those most in need across England with the cost of food, energy (heating, cooking, lighting), water bills (including sewerage) and other essentials. Local Authorities were authorised to administer the scheme and provide assistance to vulnerable families with children and other vulnerable households, particularly affected by the pandemic.
