Free school meals support to continue in Easter holidays

Families in Shropshire who currently receive free school meals during school term time will continue to receive support over the Easter holiday period.

Shropshire has been given a grant of £4.1 million from the Government’s £842 million national Household Support Fund (HSF) grant scheme. This money is to help support people who are struggling to cope with the cost of energy and the increased cost of living. 

This grant runs from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 and is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. Councils decide how this funding is used within their area based on the population needs and in line with guidance set out by central government.  

In Shropshire the money will be used to help those most in need including families with a low income, people with disabilities, pensioners, care leavers, people with caring duties and those in need who may not be eligible for the other support that the Government has recently made available. 

Ahead of the Easter holidays, it has been confirmed that a key element of this support in Shropshire will be to provide support with food costs for families who receive free school meals over the two-week break.  These will be sourced and distributed by the education settings that eligible children attend.