Council sets aside an extra £350,000 for uniform, utility costs and debt help for vulnerable families

Rotherham Council’s ruling cabinet has agreed to spend £350,000 to fund school holiday food vouchers, uniform, bills and debts.
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Following a sucessful voucher scheme for families on free school meals during the school breaks since October breaks, leader of the council, Councillor Chris Read, said additional support will be availble.

Coun Read told the meeting that 10,000 eligable children have benefitted from food voucers in the holidays so far.

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“We were able to make that commitment to provide a free school meal vouchers in the Easter holidays as well, which is, in effect £30 into the pockets of families who need it.

Stock picture used for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA WireStock picture used for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Stock picture used for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

“We’re also able to offer some additional support with buying School uniforms. And if you think about 10,000 children who are eligible for free school meals in our borough who’ve benefited through the last three holidays, and this forthcoming holiday, and a further 9,000 families who’ve benefited from that additional support with purchasing school uniforms.

“That’s an awful lot of families who are facing particularly acute financial need, in a very difficult time, or getting some relief because of the choices that we’re able to make.

“There’s all sorts of additional cash going in there to support people with utility bills – around Christmas time, we were talking about the additional support we could put in to ouyr benefits advice to help people with bills that might otherwise just take them over the edge financially, so I’m pleased that we’re able to propose making some provisions today for those people really at the sharp end of the current difficult situation that we’re in.”

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£315,000 has been agreed by cabinet for food vouchers and school uniform, and £35,218 for utility costs and debt.

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