Agenda item

Holiday food and activities for school and nursery age children during holidays

Minutes:

Mark Camborne, Assistant Director Neighbourhood Safety and Transport introduced a report of the Director for Children, Families and Education that provided an update further to the proposal agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee regarding the provision of free school meals (FSM) in school holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic since March. The report also included next steps to develop a sustainable approach to the provision of FSM and support to eligible children and those on the cusp in the medium and longer term.

 

The report informed that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed a proposal for a project co-ordinated by local charity Neo Community (Feeding Birkenhead), working in partnership with schools and local community-based feeding groups and organisations, to provide food and activities to children eligible for Free School Meals over the Christmas 2020, February half-term 2021 and Easter 2021 holidays. This built upon learning from the operation of the Edsential Holiday Activity Fund over the summer, providing for adaptation of a successful model of delivery.

 

As noted at the Policy & Resources Committee and reported by the government after the report had been drafted, the Department for Work & Pensions announced on 8 November 2020 a significant package of extra targeted financial support for those in need over the winter period. This includes:

 

·  £170m COVID Winter Grant Scheme to support children, families and the most vulnerable over winter.

·  Holiday Activities and Food programme to be expanded, covering Easter, Summer and Christmas in 2021.

·  Healthy Start payments set to rise from £3.10 to £4.25 a week from April 2021.

 

The report further informed that the Government had also pledged additional funding of £16m for food distribution charities, with conversations with FareShare and others ongoing as to how this is allocated.

 

Wirral’s proposed allocation of the £170m COVID Winter Grant Scheme is £1,224,617; this was for the period 1 December 2020 – 31 March 2021. Through the Humanitarian Cell (Food Sub-Group), partners - agencies, local organisations and groups - have been engaged in the development of proposals for spend of the COVID Winter Grant Scheme.  The engagement and additional funding (provided by both the Holiday Activities Fund and COVID Winter Grant) had seen the agreed approach built upon and extended. 

 

Members questioned the Assistant Director Neighbourhood Safety and Transport, and the Assistant Director responded accordingly.

 

Members discussed nominations for the creation of a Working Group with key partners to explore options in relation to supporting children with food in the medium to longer term.

 

The following nominations were confirmed:

 

Labour

Councillor Jean Robinson

 

Conservative

Councillor Cherry Povall

 

Liberal Democrat

Councillor Chris Carubia

 

Independent

Councillor Moira McLaughlin

 

It was:

 

Moved by Councillor Wendy Clements

Seconded by Councillor Moira McLaughlin

 

and

 

RESOLVED - That

 

(1)  the approach set out supporting school and nursery age children over Christmas 2020 and February half term 2021, be noted;

 

(2)  to the creation of a Working Group, consisting of key partners and nominated Elected Members, to explore options in relation to supporting children with food in the medium to longer term, be agreed. All recommendations to be reported back to the Policy & Resources Committee in the New Year; and

 

(3)  the following Councillors be confirmed to serve on the Working Group.

 

Labour

Jean Robinson

 

Conservative

Cherry Povall

 

Liberal Democrat

Chris Carubia

 

Independent

Moira McLaughlin

Supporting documents: