To provide a food voucher of up to £195 (£15 per school holiday week) per child that are eligible for free school meals. The £15 food voucher will cover one week during May half-term, six weeks during the Summer holiday period, one week during October half-term, two weeks during the Christmas holiday period, one week during February half-term and two weeks during the Easter holiday period. The total cost is estimated to be £897,000.00.

The free school meal system is an important component of the support that is provided to low-income families. Providing vouchers in the school holidays for children entitled to free school meals is an extension to this support and will benefit around 4,600 children. Through this proposal, primary and secondary aged school pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals will receive a food voucher of £15 per week during the holiday period up until the end of the Easter 2026 holiday period.

Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £2,343,383.67 from the Department of Works and Pensions under the Household Support Fund. The expectation is that the funding should be used primarily to support households in the most need, particularly those including children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy, food and water bills as well as other essential costs.

By utilising the funding from government, this will have a positive impact on low-income families and child poverty by minimising the debt burden on those that struggle to pay essential bills.