Islington Council has announced a £1.4 million boost for families eligible for free school meals over the summer holidays – as part of a wider strategy to support people facing food insecurity.
By Maya Sall
Islington Council has announced a £1.4 million boost for families eligible for free school meals over the summer holidays – as part of a wider strategy to support people facing food insecurity.
Families with children on free school meals will receive a voucher for £15 per child to cover their food bills.
The scheme was also meant to cover the May holidays, but it was only just approved by Islington Council at last week’s executive meeting.
The vouchers will, however, cover seven weeks of school holidays to account for the week in May.
The initiative forms part of a strategy funded by £2.2 million of government grants to help tie over food insecure families until 30 September 2024.
Local data from February 2024 shows there are currently about 27,350 low-income households with 13,600 children in the borough. Just under half of these children live in relative poverty.
Approximately one fifth of these households, comprising of 1,400 children, are food insecure.
Those most affected by food insecurity include single parent households with multiple children; households where the head of the household is aged 16-24 years; households with a disabled adult; Black and Minority Ethnic groups; households living in social housing, and households on any income related benefit.
Just under 6,000 of the lowest-income households will also receive additional council support, as well as care leaver households.
