- Sandwell Council is to receive £1,404,606 from government for food and supplies for vulnerable households as part of £170 million package.
- Extension of school holiday programme providing food and activities for young people also announced.
- The Prime Minister reaffirms Conservatives’ commitment to preventing childhood hunger.
Families that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and need extra support this winter with food and bills will benefit from a new £170 million scheme unveiled by the Government.
The Covid Winter Grant Scheme will see councils across England share £170 million in additional, ring- fenced funding to help vulnerable families and individuals, with Sandwell Council receiving £1,404,606.
This will prevent children from going hungry this winter and ensure local families get the help they need. It builds on the £63 million already provided to councils this year to assist those struggling to buy food and essentials.
A further £220 million will be invested in extending the Holiday and Food Programme until next Christmas, meaning that all children eligible for Free School Meals will have the option to join a holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and fun activities during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays next year.
To support people during this challenging time, the Conservative government has invested more than £200 billion to protect people's jobs and incomes through the furlough scheme, grants for the self-employed and other support for business and a £9.3 billion injection to strengthen the welfare safety net this year.
