Food payment vouchers for pupils eligible for free school meals

New arrangements will see food payment vouchers issued in Bridgend County Borough to the parents and carers of children who are eligible for free school meals during the October half-term break.

The £19.50 voucher will be sent directly to families in the coming days via email or mobile text message. It will be redeemable at any ‘PayPoint’ outlet which are often located in local shops, major supermarkets and fuel filling stations.

Since May 2020, the local authority has supported pupils eligible for free school meal with the provision of food parcels when they have not been in school.

While they have been a great success and served a valuable purpose, we want to ensure that during these difficult times we are allowing parents greater flexibility in sourcing their own food for their child which is why we are replacing the food parcels with payment vouchers.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration Charles Smith

Parents and carers should check their emails and mobile phone in the coming days for a voucher sent on behalf of the local authority from PayPoint.

Within the email from PayPoint, there will be a barcode. Parents and carers will need to either print or present their voucher at one of the PayPoint outlets across the county borough where it will be redeemed with £19.50 cash to be used for food for their child over the half-term break.

To find your nearest PayPoint just enter your town or postcode on the PayPoint website.

Parents and carers are asked to keep an eye on their spam/junk email and if they haven’t received a voucher by Wednesday 27 October, they should email FSMCOVID19@bridgend.gov.uk