Some Shropshire children may no longer be eligible for school holiday meal vouchers after criteria changes

Some children in Shropshire may no longer be eligible for school holiday meal vouchers due to changes to criteria.

A three-year scheme called the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) has just replaced the Household Support Fund. It will provide support to residents who are struggling to meet essential living costs or who are facing a sudden financial crisis. Shropshire Council has been awarded £3.67 million for each year of the scheme, as well as additional one-year funding of £758,558 to help households that rely on heating oil.

It has continued to provide free school meal vouchers during the Easter holidays, which will continue during the May half term.

However, due to the criteria changes set out by the Government, the council has said it cannot continue distributing mass vouchers from the summer holidays onwards.

No decision has been made yet, but the council's cabinet will consider the recommendation on Wednesday (April 15).

To minimise the impact, mitigations have been proposed for the council cabinet to consider. They include increasing the allocation of holiday activities and food support (with financial contributions from the CRF), and the potential to explore free school meal auto-enrolment during the three-year window.

In a report sent to the council’s cabinet, Rachel Robinson, director of public health at Shropshire Council, said: "It is recognised that the removal of free school meal provision from the 2026 summer holidays and the 26/27 academic year onwards may adversely impact some eligible families and a potential for an uptick in food bank usage during the holidays, potentially stretching the sector's already limited capacity and provision is possible in certain instances.”

"To provide stability for families, we have committed to funding the Easter and May half-terms," added Ms Robinson.

"Additionally, careful and clear communications will be implemented to handle the transition to removing of this support to avoid possible reputational damage and financial shock to families signposting to the support.

"It's not about giving blanket funds to people, it's the way of how you target those most in need.

"We're trying to make sure that we signpost people who are in need, from those who we're aware of as well as those signposted by agencies.

"If people think they're eligible, we've tried to be very clear where that support is."

If you think you are eligible for support or in receipt of a crisis payment, call 0345 678 9078 and select option 2 or email [email protected].