Sandwell MPs call on council not to scrap holiday vouchers 

Sandwell’s four Labour MPs have called on Reform-led Sandwell Council to abandon proposals to remove funding for free school meal holiday vouchers.

The vouchers provide direct, practical support to low-income families during the school holidays, when children no longer receive their usual free school meal during the day. 

For many families across Sandwell, this support can be the difference between getting through the week and being pushed further into hardship. 

Antonia Bance, MP for Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley, Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, Alex Ballinger, MP for Halesowen, and Gurinder Singh Josan CBE, MP for Smethwick, have written to Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Ray Nock, urging him and his Cabinet colleagues to reconsider before the Cabinet meeting on 15 July. 

Antonia Bance MP said: “Children don’t stop needing lunch when term ends. For families already struggling to get by, holiday food vouchers are practical support at a time when household budgets are under real pressure. 

“Reform councillors promised to stand up for local people and help with the cost of living. Taking this support away would make life harder for the very families they claimed they would help. 

“The Leader of the Council and his Cabinet must do the right thing and drop this proposal.” 

In response, Cllr Ray Knock, leader of Sandwell Council has written to Ms Vance, demanding a retraction and an apology for the letter, laying out how the council are intending to use the funding in line with the Government’s grant conditions.

Cllr Knock said: "I want to be really clear to those families in hardship in Sandwell who may be worried about the contents of your letter, and those who are struggling to afford food due to the challenging economic conditions and increase in food and energy prices recently [to tell them that] we are here to help and you should get in touch.

"As the report coming to Cabinet next week makes clear, our proposed scheme will provide financial help with food costs. Up to £50 will be made available to anyone who is struggling at any time – not just families whose children receive benefit-related Free School Meals during the school holidays – up to a maximum of three payments in a 12-month period.

"Under our proposed scheme, households on low incomes, including those not currently in receipt of means-tested benefits, will be able to request help to buy food if they are struggling financially – at any time throughout the year.

"This isn’t about a sticking plaster to get families through the school holidays. We’re using this money to help people through a crisis, and also to set them up to succeed in the future. 

"We want people to know that support is available, and the council is here to help when you need it. Full details of how to apply to our scheme will be published on the council’s website after the Cabinet meeting on 15 July.

"My priority as Leader of the Council is to help the people of Sandwell through these challenging times."