East Sussex council responds to summer food voucher criticism

Leader of East Sussex County Council Andy Woolley said this was because funding from the Labour government was coming to an end - and they were shifting to another model.

But Hastings Labour MP Helena Dollimore described the decision as "disgraceful" and called for it to be "urgently reversed".

Cllr Woolley clarified the changes had come after the government’s household support fund, which the council used to provide holiday supermarket vouchers, ended on March 31 and was replaced with a new fund.

The new crisis and resilience fund came into place as of April 1.

The council said this fund is intended to provide support to households experiencing immediate financial hardship and to help build longer-term financial resilience, rather than providing universal holiday food vouchers to all families eligible for free school meals.

MP Helena Dollimore (Image: na)

In a letter to the council leader, Ms Dollimore said: "I was shocked to hear that East Sussex County Council's Reform leadership plans to suspend funding for free summer food vouchers for children in Hastings, Rye, and the villages.

"It is the most basic duty of any administration to protect society's most vulnerable children.

"I am appalled that Reform have taken away food vouchers from families expecting to receive them without any communication or consideration of the impact."

The vouchers were previously distributed by local councils to those eligible so they could get food during the school holidays.

Councillor Woolley said the council had agreed to continue the vouchers during the Easter and May half-term holidays, however with the scheme no longer funded through the government it will not be continuing into the summer.

Cllr Woolley wrote: "In recognition of the transition to the new arrangements, East Sussex County Council chose to continue holiday food vouchers during the Easter and May half-term holidays.

"However, the previous voucher scheme is no longer funded through the new government arrangements.

"I would therefore respectfully challenge the suggestion that the council has chosen to 'cut funding' for vulnerable families or is 'making the conscious decision to let children go hungry.'

"The council remains fully committed to supporting children and families facing hardship and has been working with partners across the county to develop a comprehensive offer under the new crisis and resilience fund."

He said families had been advised through schools in April and July regarding the changes.

Over the summer, families eligible for benefits-related free school meals can access free activities and nutritious meals through the holiday activity and food programme.

The council said it has used resource from the crisis and resilience fund to expand this programme this year so more families receiving free school meals can benefit from this programme.

Families can also seek financial support through the council’s family information service.