Richmond school children eligible for free school meals are receiving food vouchers to cover the summer months.

Through funding from the Household Support Fund, Richmond Council has confirmed they will be providing 15 vouchers per week to eligible school children over the six-week school holiday period.

This is the same amount provided by the council as last year with current recipients totaling 4,200 children.

Cllr Penny Frost, Chair of the Education and Children's Services Committee at Richmond Council, said: 

"I'm pleased that we can continue to provide this support for families in light of the worsening cost of living crisis. By funding food vouchers, children from the borough's lowest income families will not go hungry and will be able to enjoy their summer break." 

The Council wants to ensure all eligible families are registered for free school meals. You are eligible if you receive one of the following benefits: 

     Income Support 

     Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 

     Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 

     Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

     The guaranteed element of Pension Credit 

     Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than 16,190) 

     Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

     Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than 7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get) 

For more information and to apply for these grants go to www.richmond.gov.uk/free_school_meals