Cambs Council to Extend Holiday Food Vouchers in 2026

Key Points

• Cambridgeshire County Council is expected to approve plans to provide supermarket vouchers worth £10 per child per week during school holidays to families receiving free school meals.
• The extension of financial support is planned until September 2026, following the end of the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF), which aided low-income households with essentials like food and energy bills.
• The council has allocated £1 million from a new Crisis and Resilience Fund for this “transitional arrangement,” reduced from previous £15 vouchers.​
• Documents for the Children and Young People Committee meeting on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, outline the scheme aligning with free school meals eligibility changes in September 2026, where Universal Credit households above £7,400 income will qualify.​
• No plans currently exist to extend vouchers beyond September, but the council is developing other support projects for families in need.​
• The scheme builds on prior holiday voucher provisions from April 2025 to March 2026, with values like £75 for summer, £30 for Easter/Christmas, and £15 for half-terms, sent via email/text from ‘SchoolMeals’ or ‘vouchers@wonde.com‘.​
• Eligible families include those with free school meals, funded 2-year-old childcare, early years pupil premium, or sixth-form FSM (ages 16-19); universal infant FSM does not qualify without low-income criteria.
• Participating supermarkets: Aldi, Asda, B&M, Farmfoods, Iceland, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, with varying online use and expiry (1-5 years); restrictions on alcohol, tobacco, lottery, etc.​
• Liberal Democrats, leading the council, committed £2.7 million (£1.7m prior + £1m extra) to bridge the gap post-HSF, criticising Labour government’s withdrawal.​
• In a joint statement, Cambridgeshire’s Liberal Democrat MPs stated: “Make no mistake – this is another Labour cut, slashing 70% of the cost of holiday meal vouchers for those most in need. And now the Government is telling councils like ours that we can’t continue our holiday vouchers scheme with the new funding they’re introducing – Labour are intentionally limiting the work we can do to feed hungry children during the holidays.”
• Cheney Payne, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Cambridge and teacher, said: “As a teacher at one of the most deprived schools in the county, I see the difference every day that the government’s funding cuts are making to our most vulnerable families. This is another decision by Labour in government to remove vital support from our children and young people.”​
• HSF history: Extended multiple times (e.g., April 2025-March 2026 with £742m for England), ending March 2026; replaced by Crisis and Resilience Fund, which Labour rules out for blanket vouchers.​
• Related: Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) programme offers free meals/activities; other support via Citizens Advice, Household Support Fund applications.

Cambridgeshire (Cambridge Tribune) March 7, 2026 – Cambridgeshire County Council is set to approve a continuation of its supermarket voucher scheme for families eligible for free school meals during school holidays, extending support until September 2026 after the government’s Household Support Fund concludes at the end of March. Documents prepared for the Children and Young People Committee meeting on Tuesday reveal a £1 million allocation from the new Crisis and Resilience Fund to provide £10 per child weekly, down from £15 previously. This transitional measure aligns with impending changes to free school meals eligibility.

What Is the Proposed Voucher Extension?

The extension targets families whose children qualify for free school meals, offering vouchers redeemable at major supermarkets during holidays. As detailed in council documents reported by BBC News, the scheme provides £10 per child each week of school breaks until September 2026.

Cambridgeshire County Council describes it as a “transitional arrangement” funded by £1 million from the Crisis and Resilience Fund, introduced post-HSF. There are currently no plans to continue beyond September, though the council is working on other initiatives to support families in crisis.​

This builds on the existing holiday voucher scheme running from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, where vouchers were issued automatically to eligible families ahead of breaks like Easter (£30 for 2 weeks), May half-term (£15), summer (£75 for 5 weeks), etc.

Why Is the Council Extending Support Now?

The move follows the government’s termination of the Household Support Fund after its final extension from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, which provided £742 million to English local authorities for vulnerable households. HSF, launched in 2021 and repeatedly extended, helped with food, energy, and essentials; Cambridgeshire topped it up early on to prevent child hunger during holidays.

As reported by BBC, the council seeks to bridge this gap amid cost-of-living pressures. Liberal Democrats, in council leadership, pledged £2.7 million total, including an extra £1 million, to sustain vouchers despite the funding shift.

In their joint statement, Cambridgeshire’s Liberal Democrat MPs noted:

“This is the same old story, from Conservative to Labour governments – dumping the most expensive crises that they can’t solve on local authorities, cutting funding and then blaming councils when services don’t deliver while our communities pay the price.”​

Who Qualifies for the Vouchers?

Eligibility mirrors current criteria: children on free school meals (ages 4-16), funded 2-year-old childcare under income rules, early years pupil premium (ages 3-4), or sixth-form FSM/bursary (16-19). Universal infant free school meals (Reception-Year 2) do not qualify unless low-income tested.

Vouchers are sent automatically via text from ‘SchoolMeals’ or email from ‘vouchers@wonde.com‘ to nominated parents/carers, who select a supermarket. Parents outside Cambridgeshire with children in county education can apply online; duplicates avoided if another council funds.

Councils confirm:

“If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, Early Years Pupil Premium, Funded 2-year-old support or is 16-19 and eligible for free school meals or the 16+ bursary, you will automatically receive a voucher.”​

How Do the Vouchers Work in Practice?

Families receive invites pre-holidays to choose from Aldi (no online, 5-year expiry), Asda (online yes, 2 years), B&M (no, 1 year), Farmfoods (no, 1 year), Iceland (no, 2 years), Morrisons (no, 1 year), Marks & Spencer (yes, 2 years), Tesco (no, 5 years), Sainsbury’s (yes, 2 years), Waitrose (yes, 2 years).

Restrictions apply: no alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gift cards, petrol, etc., varying by retailer. Vouchers via EVouchers app; balances checkable online/phone; unclaimed ones reallocated.

For issues, contact supermarkets directly (e.g., Tesco 03450 757 757, Asda 0800 952 0101) or holidayvoucherscheme@cambridgeshire.gov.uk with child/school details.​

What Changes Align with Free School Meals?

The scheme syncs with government plans for September 2026, expanding eligibility to Universal Credit households over the £7,400 threshold. Previously stricter, this broadens access.​

Council docs note alignment with these “changes to free school meals eligibility set for September 2026.”​

What Political Reactions Have Emerged?

Liberal Democrats condemn Labour’s HSF scrappage and Crisis Fund limits on vouchers, calling it a “Labour cut slashing 70% of costs.” Cheney Payne stated:

“It is frankly outrageous to see Labour in Cambridgeshire blaming the County Council when it is Keir Starmer’s Labour who are scrapping the Household Support Fund and then limiting our council’s ability to use any new money to feed children in need – all while the Liberal Democrats are actually committing extra funds to cover the cracks left by Labour and keep food on the table over the school holidays.”

Cambridgeshire Labour countered on Facebook, with Lib Dems voting against their proposal to continue vouchers via funded in-house services. Lib Dems position as protectors, demanding reversal.

What Additional Support Exists?

HAF provides free healthy meals, activities, sports during holidays; email HAF@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Other aids: Citizens Advice, Making Money Count, cost-of-living grants, low-cost broadband via Connecting Cambridgeshire.

Applications for free school meals via council form save up to £495/year/child.​

When Will the Decision Be Made?

The Children and Young People Committee discusses Tuesday, 10 March 2026. Approval anticipated, per BBC reports.

This comprehensive support underscores Cambridgeshire’s commitment amid national funding shifts, ensuring no child goes hungry over holidays.