Council steps up aid to Fife families on low incomes

Families in Fife on low incomes have been encouraged to apply for free school meals and help towards buying school clothing.

With schools closed, Fife Council is paying the £11.50 equivalent of a free meal – and the support will continue across the summer holidays.

Payments are also being made to families with youngsters in P1-3 who got free school milk.

The council has automatically re-awarded grants to over 7000 pupils and has written to around 5,000 more families identified as being eligible, to let them know they can now apply for these grants for the 2020-21 financial year.

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Councillor Fay Sinclair, convener of the education committee, said: “Too many children in Fife are living in poverty and too many families are finding it hard to make ends meet and this has been made even harder as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’re entitled to this bit of help, please make sure you apply.

" Over 7000 pupils will automatically be awarded the £100 school clothing grant, and we’ll be proactively contacting 5000 more families to let them know they may be eligible.”

The earliest payment date for the school clothing grant for next year is July 9.

www.fife.gov.uk/schoolbenefits

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