THURROCK Council is set to use additional government funding to prioritise free school meals for the borough's most vulnerable children this Easter.

Cabinet member for education Cllr Andrew Jefferies, says: "Over two weeks last December and throughout the February half term this year, we supported vulnerable children across the borough with free school meals. Looking ahead, I am pleased to announce that we are once again prioritising this funding for these children throughout the Easter break this April.

"Using the £704k government COVID-19 Winter Grant Scheme – which has increased from the original £524k – we are able to provide two weekly £15 supermarket vouchers to more than 6,400 eligible children and young people across Thurrock. These vouchers can be easily used to support lunchtime meals for children which would typically be provided at school.

"This is another example of Thurrock Council making sure that our most vulnerable residents are properly looked after and ensuring that all children have access to a nutritious lunch during the school holidays.

"In total we will have spent £480,000 on providing free school meals to our 6,400 eligible children over the three recent school holiday periods."