East Sussex County Council responds to criticism from Peacehaven and Hastings MPs following suspension of summer food vouchers
The Leader of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is hoping to reassure families after the council was criticised for suspending its summer food voucher scheme.
ESCC has published a letter by councillor Andy Woolley at news.eastsussex.gov.uk, which says that a new fund intends to support households experiencing ‘immediate financial hardship’ while building ‘longer-term financial resilience’.
Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, is one of the MPs criticising ESSC. He said the council had suspended its summer holiday food voucher scheme for vulnerable children despite receiving millions of pounds in Government funding to help struggling families.
The MP said: “The Labour Government has provided East Sussex with £7.3 million through the Crisis and Resilience Fund because we know many households continue to face cost of living pressures. That money should be reaching the people it was intended to help.”
He called for the decision to be reversed ‘immediately’, saying the long-running voucher scheme should be restored ‘before vulnerable children are left without the support they need’.
Mr Ward also said that applications to the wider fund had been delayed until September, which he said could leave many families uncertain about where support will come from in the six-week break.
He said: “No child should go hungry during the school holidays, especially when funding has already been provided by the Government to help families who are struggling. Parents across East Saltdean, Telscombe and Peacehaven will rightly be asking why support they were expecting has suddenly been withdrawn.
“This isn’t simply an administrative decision. It has real consequences for families who are already worried about making ends meet over the summer.”
The council received similar criticism from Hastings MP Helena Dollimore, who wrote to the council leader to demand he reverse the decision to suspend the vouchers.
Ms Dollimore said: “The vouchers have been withdrawn from families expecting to receive them with no warning or consultation. Local foodbanks have warned that children face going hungry over the school holidays and that foodbanks may struggle to meet a surge in demand for food parcels.”
But in a letter to Ms Dollimore, published at news.eastsussex.gov.uk, councilor Woolley highlighted the work being done by ESCC and its partners to support children and families facing hardship.
He said: “I understand the concerns raised by families following the end of the holiday food voucher scheme and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position.
“The Government's Household Support Fund, which East Sussex County Council used to provide holiday supermarket vouchers to families eligible for benefits-related free school meals, ended on 31 March 2026. The Government replaced this with a new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) from 1 April 2026, with a different purpose and funding framework. The new fund is intended to provide support to households experiencing immediate financial hardship and to help build longer-term financial resilience, rather than providing universal holiday food vouchers to all families eligible for free school meals.
“In recognition of the transition to the new arrangements, East Sussex County Council chose to continue holiday food vouchers during the Easter and May half-term holidays. However, the previous voucher scheme is no longer funded through the new Government arrangements.”
Councilor Wooley challenged the idea that the council had ‘cut funding’ for vulnerable families, saying: “The council remains fully committed to supporting children and families facing hardship and has been working with partners across the county to develop a comprehensive offer under the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.”
He said families were advised through schools in April and July that the holiday voucher scheme would not continue over summer.
He said: “We recognise that this change has caused concern and disappointment for some families, and we have been keen to ensure that support remains available through other routes.
“Over the summer, families eligible for benefits-related free school meals can access free activities and nutritious meals through the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme. ESCC has used resource from the Crisis and Resilience Fund to expand this programme this year so more families receiving free school meals can benefit from this programme. In addition, families experiencing financial hardship can seek support through the council’s Family Information Service, cost of living support services, and, where eligible, the new Crisis and Resilience Fund arrangements.”
Councillor Wooley said: “We recognise the pressures many families continue to face and remain committed to ensuring that the funding available is targeted towards those experiencing the greatest financial hardship, in line with the purpose of the new Government scheme.”
He said families concerned about accessing support over summer can contact the Family Information Service on 0345 60 80 192. Assistance is available through the Holiday Activity and Food programme at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/childcare/welcome-to-holiday-food-and-fun, Cost of Living Support services at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/cost-of-living-support and the Crisis and Resilience Fund at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/social-care/benefits/crisis-and-resilience-fund.
MP Chris Ward said he will continue to work with schools, community organisations and food charities across Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven to support families affected by the decision, while pressing ESCC to reinstate the voucher scheme.