Waltham Forest Council has boosted its grocery voucher scheme by £1.6 million to support vulnerable families during school holidays.
The decision, made by the Portfolio Lead Member for Communities and Libraries, Councillor Treacy, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, will see an additional £1,622,717 allocated to the Edenred Grocery Voucher Scheme. This brings the total contract value to £2,393,402.
The scheme, which has been running since 2021/22, provides grocery vouchers to families eligible for benefits-related free school meals during school holidays to ensure children continue to receive free school meals. The equality impact assessment screening also notes that the scheme benefits children and low-income families
. The funding for the scheme has transitioned from the Household Support Fund to the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
The grocery vouchers can be used to purchase everyday food and essential household items. They cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets.
Council documents state that no alternative options were considered for the contract variation, as the current agreement with Reward Gateway (UK) Ltd is in place until October 2028 and is essential for the scheme's delivery. Exploring alternatives would have caused significant disruption for staff, schools, and families, and would require procuring a new contract without guaranteed better value.
The decision aligns with the council's commitment to addressing the cost-of-living crisis and supporting those most in need. The contract variation is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
An equality impact assessment screening found that the decision would have a positive impact, particularly on children and low-income families, with no negative impacts identified.
The decision is subject to a call-in period, which expires on September 23, 2026.
More information can be found in the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.