Cardiff Council is making plans to ensure that families with children eligible for free school meals, can continue to receive provision during school holidays.

Following Welsh Government's announcement that£11m is guaranteed towards free school meal provision for all school holidays up to and including Easter 2021, the Council has been making arrangements so that more than13,000children and young people do not miss out.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "As the effects of the pandemic continue to impact everyone, it is essential that those children and young people who benefit from free school meals, can continue to access this vital provision.

"Since schools first closed for statutory education back in March, a dedicated team have worked hard to ensure the delivery of free school meals, including developing new a BACS payment system, a new supermarket voucher scheme and at the beginning of lockdown the successful delivery of 45,000 packed lunches.

"It is therefore reassuring that funds have been set aside so that our team can continue to provide this much needed scheme during schools holidays."

During the October half-term school holiday period, the free school meal scheme will be provided using the supermarket voucher scheme.

Parents and carers of children currently receiving Free School Meals will be sent a downloadable voucher to the value of £20 for the benefit of their eligible child/children which can be spent in one of the following supermarkets;

- Tesco
- Asda
- Sainsbury's
- Morrisons
- Marks & Spencer
- Waitrose.

Families who are eligible will receive a letter with details of the voucher directly from the Council. If you need any further help please contact 02920537250 or emailfreeschool.meals@cardiff.gov.uk