26/08/2026
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Conservative councillors have hit out at the decision to end supermarket vouchers for families receiving income related free school meals in North Tyneside, describing it as the βscrappingβ of support.
The Β£65 supermarket voucher issued in July 2026 was the final payment under the council's transitional arrangements, meaning eligible families will not receive another automatic supermarket voucher during the school holidays.
Under the previous scheme, families received Β£15 per child for every week of the school holidays. That was reduced to two Β£65 payments a year before the latest payment brought the voucher scheme to an end.
Cllr Liam Bones, Preston with Preston Grange Councillor, criticised the decision.
βParents previously received Β£15 per child for every week of the holidays. That was cut to two Β£65 payments a year and now even those payments are disappearing.β
He said alternative holiday activities could not replace direct help with household food costs.
βHoliday activities can be valuable, but they do not pay for the weekly food shop.β
Cllr Bones also argued that the council had made a political choice to end the vouchers, rather than being forced to do so.
However, North Tyneside Council says support has not been withdrawn β the way it is provided has changed following the Government's replacement of the Household Support Fund with the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Elected Mayor Karen Clark said:
βSupport for families during the school holidays has not been withdrawn. The Government ended the Household Support Fund and introduced the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which has different rules and a different level of funding.β
She said the previous weekly voucher model was no longer sustainable under the new national funding arrangements.
βThe previous weekly voucher model was no longer sustainable under the new national framework.β
The council says families will continue to receive support through its Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides free activities, food and enrichment for children receiving income related free school meals.
Families facing sudden financial difficulty can also apply for support through the council's Crisis Support scheme.
Mayor Clark said the new approach would allow the council to provide wider support to families rather than relying solely on supermarket vouchers.
βThe new arrangements allow us to support families in a more holistic and sustainable way, ensuring people get the right help at the right time.β
The council says the July Β£65 payment was a final transitional voucher as North Tyneside moved from the Household Support Fund to the new national funding arrangements.
