Croydon Council is co-ordinating two packages of support for thousands of children over the Easter holidays.
One £30 supermarket voucher will be issued for 15,874 pupils who would normally receive free school meals via the school’s chosen platform direct to parents. This is part funded by the council’s public health Covid-19 response budget and part by the government’s extended Covid-19 winter grant scheme and is a repeat of the help provided over the Christmas and half-term holidays.
The council has also offered grants to all schools in the borough to enable them to create Easter Food and Activity Boxes for children who qualify for free school meals.
Funding would cover ingredients for the children to create four nutritious meals plus equipment and ideas for healthy activities such as skipping ropes, balls, mindfulness colouring books and seeds and soil for growing.
Forty-six schools applied for and were awarded grant funding for the Easter boxes in a programme funded by the government.
“We care about everybody in Croydon and I am very proud that we have provided two support packages for children over the Easter holidays which include vouchers, nutritious meals and a range of fun, healthy activities. We hope that this will help to make a difference for many people.
“We understand that school holidays can be very difficult for some families because of increased costs such as food and childcare as well as reduced incomes. Some of our friends, neighbours and families will feel the pressure over these periods, so it is of utmost importance that we continue to work together to help as many people as possible to improve things and make life better during these challenging times.”
Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning
Croydon Council will be looking for partners interested in delivering holiday provision during the summer and Christmas 2021 school holidays. More information will be available soon.
