Rising financial pressures lead to a quarter of Rotherham schoolchildren receiving free school meals

A QUARTER of Rotherham schoolchildren now receive free school meals, it was revealed as the holiday voucher scheme was extended to Easter next year.

The number of the borough’s youngsters signed up has risen about 70 per cent to more than 12,000 in the past five years.

“It tells you something about the financial pressure that our families are facing,” RMBC leader Cllr Chris Read told last Monday’s cabinet meeting.

A £5 million government grant through the Household Support Fund will allow Rotherham Council to continue to supply £15-a-week vouchers during school holidays up to and including Easter 2024.

About half of the grant will be used for this purpose, with £1.2 million covering the entire cost of RMBC’s council tax support top-up scheme for 2023/24.

Another £563,000 will go on small cost of living grants through the Energy Crisis Support Scheme, and £180,0000 will provide tinned supplies for foodbanks.

Cllr Victoria Cusworth, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I really welcome the additional support for another 12 months of free school meals. Families tell us how this has been a real lifeline.

“In Rotherham, we have seen an increase in people signing up, particularly because of the additional support we’ve been able to put in place.”

Cllr Read added: “This is money we can put to good use helping families in Rotherham who need it, and the more we are able to do that, the better.”