Warwickshire County Council has issued almost 15,000 food vouchers for February half term to families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, poverty.

A total of 14,816 supermarket vouchers were issued ahead of February half term directly to families with children eligible for benefits related free school meals. This follows similar support during the Christmas break and this group will be helped again when schools close for Easter.

The vouchers were distributed via Warwickshire County Council's Local Welfare Scheme using its allocation of the Covid Winter Grant Scheme from the Government's Department for Work and Pensions.

This is only part of the offer available from the Local Welfare Scheme whichis there for the county'smost vulnerable residents at times of unavoidable crisis when they have no other means of help.The scheme provides financial support and advice for people to meet the costs offood, energy and other essentials.

Warwickshire County CouncillorHeather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Heritage & Culture,said: "More people are finding themselves facing hardship as the financial consequences of the pandemic are realised. We are a community that supports each other and our well-established Local Welfare Scheme has been able to help many of these people and the Covid Winter Grant Scheme has enabled us to do even more.

"In distributing Warwickshire's allocation of the funding we supported families eligible for free school meals by providing supermarket vouchers during the Christmas and February school holidays and will do this again for the Easter break. We are grateful to Warwickshire schools and education settings for helping us to reach all these families proactively.

"We arereaching out to communities to raise awareness oftheinvaluable support on offer at this time. We strongly encouragepeopletolook online and get in touchwith us in confidence, eitherforthemselves or on behalf of someone else,to find outwhathelpis available.

People can contact theWarwickshire Local Welfare Schemeteamon01926359182 or 0800 408 1448or visitthe WCC website.