Town Hall unveils £1.4m funding boost for free holiday meals

Islington Town Hall. Photograph: Islington Citizen

Islington Council has announced a £1.4 million funding boost for families eligible for free school meals over the summer holidays.

The move is part of a wider strategy to support people facing food insecurity.

Families with children on free school meals will receive a voucher for £15 per child to cover their food bills.

The scheme was also meant to cover the May half-term holiday, but it was only just approved at a recent executive meeting.

The vouchers will, however, cover seven weeks of school holidays to account for the week in May.

The initiative forms part of a strategy funded by £2.2 million of government grants to help tie over food insecure families until 30 September 2024.

Local data from February 2024 shows there are currently about 27,350 low-income households with 13,600 children in the borough.

Just under half of these children live in poverty. And approximately one fifth of these households, comprising 1,400 children, are food insecure.

Among the people most affected by food insecurity are single parents, adults with disabilties, Black and minority ethnic groups, and those living in social housing.

Just under 6,000 of the lowest-income households will also receive additional council support, including care leavers.