Food vouchers of £15 per week (£30 total) will be made available to children and young people eligible for free school meals. In total 17,000 Oldham children will be helped by the initiative via vouchers that can be used at local supermarkets.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Oldham Council deputy leader said: “Despite the Government’s continued lack of long term planning around free school meals in holiday times, we have managed to secure enough money to ensure our vulnerable children and young people will have vital food supplies this Easter.
“We know that, although this isn’t anywhere near the amount of money needed to support those most in need, particularly with the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, this funding will go some way towards ensuring no child in Oldham goes hungry.
“We will therefore continue to pressure central Government to ensure they do not forget Oldham and its residents and call for fair funding for our borough – particularly around food for vulnerable young people in holiday periods.”
During the Christmas and February half terms Oldham Council ensured that vulnerable families received £45 worth of food vouchers over both holiday periods.