Food Voucher Scheme Extended to September With £2.7M Funding

A county council in the United Kingdom has announced plans to extend its food voucher scheme until September, allocating £2.7 million to fund the programme. The initiative is designed to support low‑income households that continue to face pressure from elevated living costs, particularly rising food prices.

Under the scheme, families with children eligible for free school meals receive supermarket vouchers that can be used to purchase essential groceries. Local officials said the vouchers are particularly important during school holiday periods, when families lose access to subsidised meals normally provided during the school term.

Council representatives said the funding allocation is intended to bridge a potential support gap following the end of some national cost‑of‑living assistance programmes. By continuing the voucher system, the authority aims to ensure that vulnerable households can maintain access to basic food supplies.

Officials added that the programme’s future will be reviewed as part of upcoming budget discussions, depending on economic conditions and demand for assistance. Local authorities across the UK have increasingly relied on targeted support schemes like food vouchers to mitigate the impact of inflation and household financial strain.