{"id":63711,"date":"2024-07-25T16:10:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T15:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=63711"},"modified":"2025-04-24T14:56:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:56:37","slug":"support-is-available-for-households-in-devon-who-are-struggling-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/support-is-available-for-households-in-devon-who-are-struggling-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Support is available for households in Devon who are struggling this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As schools close their doors for the summer holidays, we are aware that the financial challenges facing some households in Devon will be intensified over the next few weeks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased costs such as food and activities, particularly with the current cost of living, and reduced incomes due to childcare, mean that this year\u2019s break could be especially difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why we are reminding people of the support available through the Government\u2019s Household Support Fund, which is planned to run until Monday 30 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year we were allocated a little over \u00a35 million from the Government to help households struggling to pay higher bills for energy, food, water, and other essential items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve used just over \u00a32.2m of the fund to send children who receive benefits-related free school meals supermarket vouchers worth \u00a3105 to spend on replacing the meals they would have had at school during the day. It\u2019s the equivalent of \u00a315 per week of the one week May half term and six-week summer holiday and has been distributed in one lump sum now to allow families some flexibility on how they spend the vouchers and try to help with the additional pressure the summer period puts on household budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already sent these supermarket vouchers to families whose children currently receive free school meals, so please check your inbox and redeem them. If you were expecting to receive the vouchers, but didn\u2019t, get in touch with our team as soon as possible by emailing freeschoolmeals@devon.gov.uk<\/a> or calling 0345 155 1019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s circumstances change all the time, so if you didn\u2019t previously qualify for free school meals but your income has recently reduced or stopped,\u202fplease apply via our website<\/a>. It\u2019s the quickest and easiest way for your eligibility to be assessed and you will get an instant decision. You can find out more about the free school meal holiday voucher scheme on our website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding for financial support for food, energy and other essentials to eligible low income households with children and young people is also available through our Early Help service.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our colleagues at Devon\u2019s district or city councils have been busy proactively identifying vulnerable and in-need households, making contact with them and offering \u2018one-off\u2019 financial assistance. Households can also apply for short-term help if they are experiencing financial hardship, for example, those struggling financially to secure food, water, energy, essential and exceptional (for example, rent arrears prior to being in receipt of appropriate housing benefits) provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit the cost of living and support pages on your district council\u2019s website to find out more about support in your local area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n