Government’s £170m coronavirus pandemic package protects hungry children
THIS Government always has been, and always will be, on the side of families.
That is why we have responded to the challenges of this pandemic with a huge package of support to protect jobs, safeguard livelihoods and bolster the welfare safety net.
But we know some families are still really struggling, especially those who have lost their jobs due to Covid.
This year has been tough for everyone but for those worrying about putting food on the table or money in the meter, it has been an extra strain.
And as we move into winter, I am with Sun on Sunday readers who believe that helping low-income families through these difficult times is the right thing to do.
As the Prime Minister has said, no child should go hungry this winter.
Nor should they have to worry about being warm or having a roof over their heads.
With Christmas on the horizon, we want to give those families some much-needed security and help those in most need put food on the table so that every child will be warm and well-fed this winter.
That is why today, we are announcing a bumper package of support to see these families through the winter months and beyond.
Through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, we are handing £170 million to local authorities in England, building on the £63m distributed earlier this year.
Local councils have the local ties and knowledge, making them well placed to identify and help those children and families most in need.
Targeting this money effectively will ease the burden faced by those families across the country fearful of the next bill coming through the letterbox, or fretting about the next food shop, giving them peace of mind through the winter.
Children this winter can be helped right across the country through the already-guaranteed £16 billion funding for other governments in the UK.
It is important that food on the table for young children is not just any food but nutritious - so we are also increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers by more than a third, helping low-income families to buy fresh milk and fruit and vegetables for healthy meals and helping to boost their readiness for school.
And next year, from Easter through Summer to the Christmas holidays - building on our evidence that keeping children connected to education through the long school holidays will help them perform in school better - we are rolling out our £220 million Holiday Activities and Food programme across the country, offering enriching activities, and free, nutritious meals to thousands of children.
Of course, it won’t just be children in need this winter which is why councils will have some flexibility with the funding to help other vulnerable people, and we will also be donating a further £16 million for food distribution charities to help everyone in need.
After a year like this, you appreciate the huge value of schemes like this one – kids being kids, spending time together doing interesting activities and getting healthy meals.
This package taken as a whole will make a big difference to families and children throughout the country as we continue to fight, and eventually emerge from, this virus.
It reflects our approach throughout - we are living under extraordinary circumstances and this requires an extraordinary response.
We will continue to support all families as we are doing, protecting 12 million jobs with the furlough and self-employment schemes, so that those who could not work were still getting most of their pay and, crucially, keeping their job and livelihood.
For those that lost their jobs or had a drop in hours, the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit has meant the poorest 10 per cent were no worse off despite Covid.
We are striving every day to save the lives and livelihoods of people in this country.
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Now, we’re making sure families can look forward to Christmas, and a new beginning in 2021.
We’re wrapping our arms around Britain this winter and we will defeat the coronavirus, together.
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