Camden Council providing extra help with food this winter
Camden Council is providing food vouchers to over 16,000 children this week as part of its commitment to ensure no child goes hungry this winter.
Approximately 7,000 supermarket vouchers were sent to Camden schools on Friday 11 December to be distributed to children receiving free school meals, including children who do not live in Camden. A further 9,500 vouchers are being sent out this week to Camden families receiving Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support to their home address.
Around 900 households are also receiving vouchers, including refugees known to the Council and Camden schools, care leavers living in their own accommodation, young carers, carers receiving Carer's Allowance and Housing Benefit / Council Tax Support, together with pensioners and adults living in supported housing receiving benefits and considered to be at risk of financial hardship this winter.
The scheme is funded by the Government’s Winter Support Grant aimed at supporting households at risk of going hungry this winter. Further vouchers will be issued in February for families to cover the February half-term period.
The coronavirus pandemic has unfortunately put a huge financial strain on many of our families, with some struggling to buy the food needed to feed their children. We simply cannot let this happen and we’re committed to doing everything we can to tackle food hunger and ensure children get the best start in life.
No child will go hungry in Camden this winter, and we will make sure every child who needs our support will get it.
How eligible families are receiving their vouchers
Eligible families and individuals will be sent a unique code, via their child’s school or direct to their home address, and can be exchanged for a choice of supermarket. Each code is unique, worth £30 and can only be used once.
Eligible families with more than one child will receive more than one code.
If you have any questions please refer to FAQs as these may provide the answer that you need: www.select-your-reward.co.uk/Faqs
If you have any problems redeeming the voucher, call 0344 693 9901 or complete the online contact form at www.select-your-reward.co.uk/ContactUs.
If you do not have access to the internet or cannot download a voucher to a smart phone or tablet ask at your local library, children’s centre or your children’s school who will help you to print off the voucher.
Last week a campaign to drive much-needed support to food charities and local food hubs this winter has been launched by Dame Louise Casey with London Councils, The Mayor of London and leading national food poverty charities The Trussell Trust, FareShare, Magic Breakfast and Social Bite also lending their support.
To find out how you can support a food hub in your community or to donate to the Covid Community Campaign please visit www.covidcommunitycampaign.co.uk