Somerset Ends Holiday Food Vouchers

Somerset Council in the United Kingdom will cease providing automatic supermarket vouchers for low-income families during school holidays, effective before the Easter holidays. This decision impacts 15,285 children, representing 21.2% of all pupils in Somerset, who are eligible for free school meals. The council, which spent £2.1 million on the voucher scheme last year, is replacing it with a new crisis fund, allocating approximately £1 million annually for emergency support, including food.

The previous voucher scheme was funded by the government's Household Support Fund (HSF), which provided Somerset Council with £6.7 million in 2025/26. The HSF is being replaced by a new Crisis and Resilience Fund, from which Somerset Council will receive £21 million over the next three years. The council's Liberal Democrat executive committee voted to redirect these funds primarily towards preventative work, with a smaller portion for direct emergency aid.

Educators, such as Matt Vella, head teacher of St Michael's Academy in Yeovil, expressed concern that the change will disproportionately affect vulnerable pupils, particularly in areas where nearly 40% of students rely on free school meals. The Department for Work and Pensions stated that the £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund is intended as a safety net, allowing local authorities to design schemes tailored to their area's needs, potentially including holiday meal support.