£1.5m cash boost for vulnerable children and families in East Sussex this winter

Families in East Sussex that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and need extra support this winter with food and bills will benefit from a new £170million scheme unveiled by the Government.
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The Covid Winter Grant Scheme will see councils across England share £170million in additional, ring-fenced funding to help vulnerable families and individuals, with East Sussex County Council receiving £1,594,930.86.

This will prevent children from going hungry this winter and ensure local families get the help they need.

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It builds on the £63million already provided to councils this year to assist those struggling to buy food and essentials.

A £1.5million cash boost for vulnerable children and families in East Sussex has been announcedA £1.5million cash boost for vulnerable children and families in East Sussex has been announced
A £1.5million cash boost for vulnerable children and families in East Sussex has been announced

A further £220million will be invested in extending the Holiday and Food Programme until next Christmas, meaning that all children eligible for Free School Meals will have the option to join a holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and fun activities during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays next year.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield said “No child should ever go hungry, and the extra £1,594,930.86 for East Sussex County Council will ensure local families that need extra support with food and bills this winter can access it, which is very welcome news.

“I’m also pleased that the Prime Minister has announced the extension of the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides healthy food and activities for children during the school holidays and has a massive impact on disadvantaged young people in our community, to cover Easter, Summer and Christmas next year.

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“Investing in children’s future is central to the Conservative Party’s mission to level up and extend opportunity across the country, and with this additional support we can prevent the hunger we know is so damaging to a child’s life chances.”

To support people during this challenging time, Mrs Caulfield said the Conservative government has invested more than £200billion to protect people’s jobs and incomes through the furlough scheme, grants for the self-employed and other support for business and a £9.3billion injection to strengthen the welfare safety net this year.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said “We want to make sure vulnerable people are cared for throughout this difficult time and, above all, no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter.”

“We know this has been a challenging time for many and we have consistently supported the lowest-paid families, protecting 9 million jobs with furlough and boosting welfare support by £9.3 billion.”

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“This package builds on that support and by extending our successful Holiday Activities and Food programme as well as funding a £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme to ensure families get the help they need.”