Darlington Support Fund To Prioritise Food Vouchers For Children

Money from a strategy primitively group up to thief group during nan Covid pandemic will beryllium targeted astatine children successful debased income families, a assembly has said.

Darlington Borough Council has received £1.6m from nan Household Support Fund, which was introduced successful 2021 but has since been extended respective times.

In a study detailing plans for nan money, officials said nan mostly – astir £885,000 – would beryllium utilized to salary for nutrient vouchers during schoolhouse holidays for children usually eligible for free meals.

Councillors, who person been recommended to judge proposals to "help those who are struggling to spend family essentials", will ballot connected nan plans connected Tuesday.

The vouchers would beryllium fixed to astir 5,000 families successful nan town, while £176,000 would beryllium spent connected situation support grants and £80,000 fixed to nutrient banks.

It besides said astir £35,000 would beryllium spent connected schoolhouse uniforms for debased income families.

Darlington Council said nan cookware of money provided this twelvemonth done nan money was 12% down connected nan magnitude it received past year.

The strategy is aimed astatine susceptible people, but individual councils determine connected eligibility criteria and really nan money is spent.