Food vouchers for thousands of Derbyshire families to stave off holiday hunger

Food vouchers curb holiday hunger among families in need.

Nearly 26,000 vouchers were distributed to cover the Christmas holidays, with a second set going out in February to tide families over the half-term break.

Approximately £1.66m of the £2.2m is earmarked for the provision of food vouchers for families and around £0.42m is being spent on vulnerable adults partially through voucher scheme for care-leavers and via Derbyshire Discretionary Fund.

There is also additional funding for:

*The Derbyshire Healthy Homes Programme which will address, via referral, domestic infrastructure issues including boiler repair and heating system maintenance.

*An older adult hardship fund targeting over 65-year-olds via a grant to Age UK Derby and Derbyshire;

*A grant to Derbyshire Carers Association ensuring that funding reaches vulnerable adults and families who are dealing with the additional pressures of caring for those with long term health conditions, chronic illness, disabilities and learning difficulties.

Councillor Alex Dale, the council’s cabinet member for young people, said: “ This has been a hard year for a lot of families and other members of our communities and throughout our development of this proposal it has been our aim to make sure all of the money reaches families in the most efficient way.

“Although the Government has indicated that administrative and delivery costs for the setting up and running of the scheme should be deducted from the grant it has been our priority that all of the funds are made available for families directly.

“Consequently, 100% of the grant is being made available to spend on the essential provision of food vouchers, the cost of essential utilities or other forms of support for individuals and families.”

Families whose circumstances have recently changed are being urged to apply for free school meals for January to ensure they qualify for the next round of food vouchers in February. Parents can apply on the county council’s website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals