Harlow women details how rising food costs have driven down value of summer holiday support
News / Fri 28th Jul 2023 at 07:21am
RISING food costs have driven down the value of summer-holiday support for pupils on free school meals reports the BBC.
During the holidays, many councils in England offer vouchers or cash payments to help those eligible.
But BBC News research shows 67 of 92 councils have cut or kept their support the same as last year, leading to a drop in value once food inflation, currently 17.3%, is taken into account.
Support has ended in Northern Ireland and varies across Wales and Scotland.
Zoe, from Harlow has three children, eight, 10 and 18, all entitled to free school meals during term time and vouchers worth £75 each for the summer holidays.
They received £75 vouchers last year too – but the money buys less now.
Click below for full story.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-66243707
David Forman
2023-07-29 12:38:22
The BBC report states: "A food shop that would have been £75 last year now costs Zoe £88." This makes a lot a difference for a woman who is a full-time carer for her husband. Of course the Tories at Essex County Council don't care and kept the payments the same as last year. What a surprise.
James
2023-07-30 17:11:29
The great unwashed of Harlow do not deserve taxpayers’ money to feed their children. Zoe should’ve thought about her financial situation before she had three kids she’d struggle to feed.
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