Nearly £1m for Buckinghamshire's vulnerable families
The cash will be used to pay bills & buy food over the winter.
Families struggling to buy food or pay the bills in Buckinghamshire are going to get extra help.
£967,503.829 has been given to the county by the government, to try and stop kids going hungry over the winter.
The Covid Winter Grant Scheme will see Buckinghamshire Council receiving £967,503.82 in additional, ring-fenced funding to help vulnerable families and individuals.
This will prevent children from going hungry this winter and ensure local families get the help they need. It builds on the £63 million already provided to councils this year to assist those struggling to buy food and essentials.
Other support on offer
A further £220 million will be invested nationwide in extending the Holiday and Food Programme until next Christmas, meaning that all children eligible for Free School Meals will have the option to join a holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and fun activities during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays next year.
Rob Butler, MP for Aylesbury, said:
“No child should ever go hungry, and the extra £967,000 from the Government for Buckinghamshire Council will ensure that local families across the Aylesbury constituency get extra support with food and bills this winter, which is very welcome news.
"It’s absolutely right that it’s local councils that identify the people most in need – building on Buckinghamshire Council’s Helping Hands scheme which ran during half-term.
"This makes far more sense than asking schools to provide meals in holidays, and is much better than simply supplying vouchers as the Labour Party wanted to do.
“I’m also pleased that the Prime Minister has announced the extension of the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides healthy food and activities for children during the school holidays and has a massive impact on disadvantaged young people in our community, to cover Easter, Summer and Christmas next year."
The Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey MP said:
“We want to make sure vulnerable people are cared for throughout this difficult time and, above all, no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter.
“We know this has been a challenging time for many and we have consistently supported the lowest-paid families, protecting 9 million jobs with furlough and boosting welfare support by £9.3 billion.
“This package builds on that support and by extending our successful Holiday Activities and Food programme as well as funding a £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme to ensure families get the help they need.”