Christmas School Meal Vouchers Unlikely

Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan has said the gov is unlikely to offer vouchers or activities for children who receive free school meals over the Christmas holidays.

Mrs Lord-Brennan was quizzed on the success of the summer scheme for vouchers by Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse.

The minister said that the summer scheme that ran last summer, where free holiday activities and meals were offered to children who receive free school dinners, ‘wasn’t an alternative to anything we’ve had previously’.

She said: ‘Previously there hasn’t been anything like this before, I think through the Covid period was a different time, people could not work in many respects, that was the basis for the vouchers and so absolutely it is an improvement to what was available previously, because there wasn’t anything.

‘I do think there are things that can be learned form the scheme, that was the intention, so CoMin will review that now see what might be incorporated, or potentially provided for and how that might be done for next summer, learning from the experiences from that, which has been incredibly helpful.

‘I think it’s unlikely the scheme will run during the Christmas holidays this year, but the support related to cost of living is being continuously reviewed and I would reiterate again that individuals should always contact social security in the first instance as a primary means of financial support for those on low incomes but there are obviously other initiatives that have been brought out, including the helpline and the website to do with the cost of living.’

Mrs Lord-Brennan said that the gov would be reviewing the scheme ahead of next summer.