Milton Keynes City Council is supporting local families who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis by setting aside £700,000 for supermarket vouchers available to spend during upcoming school holidays.
Families who are either entitled to benefit-related free school meals, in receipt of Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit, or who are otherwise identified by schools as in particular need will receive a £15 supermarket credit per child per week for October half term holiday, Christmas holiday and February 2023 half term.
The investment is part of a range of wider assistance being announced in the City Council’s Winter Plan, which goes to Cabinet in November and includes extra funding for projects that provide food, offset or reduce energy bills, or give access to domestic essentials.
The City Council has already shared millions of pounds this year in support for struggling residents, including making £10m of energy related council tax rebate payments, £1m of support for local charities and community groups including MK FoodBank and setting up more than 30,000 hours of free activities and meals over the summer school holidays.
“Inflation has risen to its highest point for 40 years and the cost-of-living crisis is hitting our poorest and most vulnerable residents the hardest, so this is where we’ve put our focus. Our Winter Plan is geared up to help MK’s most vulnerable people, so they don’t have to choose between food, warmth and household basics. We’ll be sharing details of all our support initiatives on our website where you can also find our cost-of-living help factsheet.”
Families need to take no action to apply and will receive the initial £15 supermarket voucher for the October half term via their child/children’s school. MK City Council is providing funding to the schools.