FAMILIES across Bolton will have some extra help towards food costs this half term, as supermarket vouchers are set to be issued for 15,000 children.

During the half-term break, families with school age children eligible for free school meals, will receive £20 worth of vouchers per child via their school.

The programme will be funded by £300,000 from the new Household Support Fund, recently launched by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Cllr Anne Galloway, the borough's cabinet member for children's services, said: “School holidays can be a challenging time for families struggling with the extra cost of food.

“Our local Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) programme has been set up to provide support during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays this year.

“This additional funding will also give families an extra helping hand this October half-term.”

Children aged up to five who meet the eligibility criteria for free school meals will also be issued with £20 vouchers directly.

This will also mean that eligible 16-to-19-year-olds will also receive the vouchers.

The HAF programme saw some success in August, with the launch of the £1m play and free meals scheme.

The initiative was praised by parents for being “fun, friendly and well organised”, which included everything from skateboarding to cookery to keep youngsters occupied.

Cllr Galloway, told The Bolton News then: “I have been so pleased to visit some of the sessions to see first-hand what a positive impact the HAF programme is having on children in our borough.

“After the past 18 months of lockdown, and the disruption caused by class bubbles closing, the programme has proved a real benefit to children during the long holidays to keep them stimulated with activities and allows them to socialise with their age group.”

The borough council also announced a similar scheme in February, which came from the £1.1m Winter Support Grant.

The move towards offering more support follows on from the high profile campaign led by Manchester United player Marcus Rashford, to support youngsters through the school holidays.