Supermarket vouchers worth £570,000 have been sent to families of 19,000 children in Devon to help them buy food over the upcoming Easter holidays.

It’s thanks to the Government’s one-off ‘household support fund’, which was given to councils to distribute. Over the last year they have invested Devon’s £4.7-million share in providing nearly 140,000 supermarket vouchers for families who qualify for free school meals; so their children don’t go hungry over the school holidays. The Chancellor recently announced that the government intendsto continue its Household Support Fund after April, and the council are waiting for further details.Other support is also available, including the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) scheme, which eligible families can take part in for free over the Easter holidays and summer break.

It aims to provide a wide range of fun and enriching activities and nutritious food in a safe and sociable environment for children and young people to develop new skills or knowledge and try out new experiences, make friends and have fun.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for communities, said: “By working with partners such as schools, district councils, children’s centres, Citizens Advice and the Devon Community Foundation, we’ve been able to make theabsolute most of this government funding.“I am grateful for all the hard work of our team and partners for making sure we were able to get this support to households most in need as quickly as possible.”

Families are urged to check their holiday vouchersand redeem them as soon as possible before they expire and get in touch with Devon County Council’s free school meals team if you were expecting to receive a voucher but didn’t. Please email [email protected] or call 0345 155 1019.

If you didn’t previously qualify for free school meals but your income has recently reduced or stopped, please apply online through the Devon County Council website to check if you are eligible for this support as soon as possible. The quickest and easiest way for your eligibility to be assessed is through the Devon County Council websiteand you will get an instant decision.

Alternatively, contact Devon County Council’s education helpline on 0345 155 1019.More information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme is available at www.devon.gov.uk