Milton Keynes Council has secured funding to provide healthy meals as part of their Summer of Play activities, and issue supermarket e-vouchers for children eligible for free school meals.

Councillor Zoe Nolan, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “I’m thrilled that the Progressive Alliance has been able to secure funding and provide free school meal vouchers over the summer holidays.”

“Together with the Summer of Play, we hope these vouchers will provide vulnerable families with a safety net, and allow children across Milton Keynes to enjoy their holidays.” 

The vouchers, which are issued through schools and are available at the start and end of the holidays when the Summer of Play is not running, will be a lifeline for families whose children would have normally only received free school meals in term time.

The Summer of Play has over 120,000 hours of free activities for children and young people in August. The majority of the 30,000 individual play and activity sessions will also provide healthy meals.

Councillor Jane Carr, Liberal Democrat Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities and Child Poverty, said: “The Progressive Alliance is doing everything it can to help struggling families in these difficult times, and these vouchers and meals will be a relief for many of them.”

“I hope our MPs and Conservative government work to find a permanent, long-term solution to ensure no child goes hungry in the school holidays again.”