Liberal Democrats urge Mayor to continue Free School Meal holiday vouchers

At last Wednesday’s Cabinet Meeting, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats called on the Conservative Mayor to continue funding the Free School Meal holiday vouchers to help families with the cost of living crisis. The vital service provides parents with children eligible for income related free school meals with shopping vouchers to use in the school holidays to help with meal costs.

After initially admitting that he hadn’t given it that much thought, the Mayor said that he assumed that they would be carrying on with what had been usual form.

Cllr Michael Headley said “We introduced this scheme in Christmas 2020 and thousands of families have been helped during each school holiday ever since. At the time of this cost of living crisis, families are struggling and these shopping vouchers for children eligible for free school meals have been one key way that we were able to help.  It’s crucial now that the new Mayor gives this important issue serious thought and removes any questionmark hanging over the scheme by announcing that it will indeed continue over future holidays – particularly with the summer holidays fast approaching.”