Leader's column: 'We had to step in to help'

In her latest column, Tameside Council leader Cllr Brenda Warrington discusses the free school meals voucher scheme that the authority has launched this week.

If a child is going hungry because the family aren’t able to afford food, then surely it is the duty of others to step in and help if they can.

That is self-evident at any time, but perhaps more so now when families are subject to increased financial pressures due to the impact of Covid-19 on jobs and incomes.

Prior to the onset of Covid-19, successive governments have supported the principle of free school meals for families on low incomes. That is to be welcomed. 

As was the commitment by the current government to provide free school meals over the summer holidays. 

They rightly recognised the pressures families are under and the need to do something extra to help.

What has changed? The situation regarding Covid-19 hasn’t. Sadly, the virus is still with us and the impact on families is considerably greater now we have moved into Tier 3 restrictions. 

Despite that, the government’s policy towards free school meals has changed. Inexplicably, they have refused to provide the same support this half term as they did over the summer. 

Despite calls from all quarters - including some of their own MPs - that this continued support is vital, the government have refused to provide a national scheme. 

To me it flies in the face of common sense and basic decency. 

The campaign led so inspirationally by Marcus Rashford has shown there is overwhelming support in the country for an end to food poverty for children.

When it became clear last week the government weren’t going to help I decided we had to step in.

Launched this week the scheme provides a £15 supermarket voucher from either Tesco or Asda for any child attending a Tameside school who is eligible for income-based free school meals. 

Applying for the voucher is simple. 

Parents or carers just need to go onto the Tameside Council website – at www.tameside.gov.uk/voucher – and complete a form with a few key details. 

Following some appropriate record checks to ensure the support is going to the right people they will then be contacted to confirm whether the application has been successful. If so, a voucher from either Tesco or Asda will follow via e-mail.

If parents or carers are unsure about filling in the form, don’t have access to the internet or need any other urgent support they can contact the Early Help Access Team on 0161 342 4260.