Telford & Wrekin Council has been providing school holiday supermarket food vouchers for children who receive income‑based Free School Meals, the Pupil Premium, Talking 2’s, Early Years Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium. These vouchers have been funded through the Household Support Fund – a grant provided by the UK Government. The Government will end this grant on 31 March 2026.

This means that vouchers for the Easter 2026 holiday will be the final automatic ones issued.

If you have received a voucher and have a question about it, please see the information below.

View more information on how the Household Support Fund has been used in Telford and Wrekin

Why is Easter 2026 the last holiday that vouchers are automatically being issued for?

The UK Government is ending the Household Support Fund on 31 March 2026. This is the funding we have been using to provide school holiday vouchers to help households with the cost of living.

What other help is available?

From April 2026, the UK Government is introducing a new, longer term Crisis and Resilience Fund. The rules for this new fund are different and mean that we can no longer automatically issue school holiday vouchers.

If you experience a financial crisis due to an unexpected shock – for example, an urgent need to move home, an unexpected essential bill or a sudden drop in income – you can apply for one off help from 1 April 2026 through our new Crisis Payment fund.

We will also be investing more funding into services that help people manage financial pressures, including:

  • support to maximise their benefit entitlement,
  • budgeting advice, and
  • help to reduce debt.

More information will be added to our Crisis and Resilience Fund webpage.

We are also working on plans to expand our Happy Healthy Active Holidays scheme, which provides food and activities for eligible children during some school holidays. Families who are currently eligible will receive an invitation to book.

More information is available at Happy Healthy Active Holidays website.

For guidance on preparing balanced meals during school holidays, visit our
Healthy Telford website.

There is also a range of support available on our Cost of Living webpage, including links to our financial support leaflets.

How will I receive my voucher code?

We have changed the automated email system we use to send most voucher codes directly to households. Please add services@comms.telford.gov.uk and winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk to your safe/trusted senders list to help ensure that our messages sent from this system go straight to your inbox.

If additional children in your household only became entitled to food vouchers shortly before we issued them, you may receive your voucher code credit via more than one email that otherwise look very similar to each other.

Can I spend the voucher code I've been sent or do I need to redeem it?

You need to redeem the voucher code you have been sent. You do this by converting it into one or more spendable e-vouchers for the supermarket(s) you want to shop at. You also need to do this before the expiry date shown in your voucher code email or letter. After you have redeemed the code, your e-voucher(s) will be sent to you from our supplier by email.

How long before I want to spend my e-voucher do I need to redeem my voucher code?

You need to redeem voucher codes you have been sent at least 72 hours before you go shopping in-store or online. This allows time for the e-voucher(s) you have chosen to be sent to you.

How do I redeem my voucher code?

Use the link provided in your email or letter to visit the Select Essentials website and choose the supermarket you wish to shop at. You can then redeem the value of your voucher code for that store. Please make sure you do this at least 72 hours before you want to spend the e-voucher you choose. Your emailed e-voucher can then be shown on your phone screen at the checkout, or you can print it off and take it with you to the checkout.

Can I pick e-vouchers for more than one supermarket?

Yes, you can.

How do I redeem more than one voucher code on the Select Essentials website?

Follow the instructions to redeem it. Once you have entered your first code on the Home page and clicked Redeem, you will then be able to add additional codes to your balance by using the View / Add Codes button on the Choose page.

Do I need to redeem the full value of my voucher code?

You need to redeem the full value of a voucher code online in one transaction. However, once you have received your e-voucher(s), you don’t need to spend it/them all at once as each works in the same way as a gift card. This means that you can spend any leftover balance the next time you shop. However, you do need to spend the whole balance by the expiry date shown on the e-voucher. The length of time an e-voucher is valid for varies between supermarkets.

Which shops can I use e-vouchers at online?

You can use Aldi, ASDA, Farmfoods, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, M&S Food and Waitrose e-vouchers in-store. You can also use ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose e-vouchers online.

If you wish to use Sainsbury's e-vouchers online, you may need take additional steps. Their website has more information about online redemption.

Visit the Sainsbury's website for more information

What should I do if I need help, I haven’t received my chosen e-voucher or it doesn’t work when I try to spend it?

Please call our voucher provider Select Essentials on 0800 587 2294 or visit their website and complete the online contact form.

If you can quote them the associated 16-digit voucher code from the notification email or letter we sent you, they may be able to help you more easily.

How do I find out if I am entitled to Free School Meals, Talking 2's, Early Years Pupil Premium or the Pupil Premium?

Visit the Free School Meals page to find out if you are eligible for either them or the Pupil Premium, and find out how to apply

Visit the Talking 2's page to find out if you are eligible

Visit the Early Years Pupil Premium page to find out if you are eligible

My child receives Universal Infant Free School Meals. Does this mean that they are entitled to holiday food vouchers?

Universal Infant Free School Meals is a government initiative that is available to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils, and is not means-tested, which means it's availability is not related to a parent or carer’s income.

Pupils must be in receipt of income-related Free School Meals rather than Universal Infant Free School Meals to be eligible for holiday food vouchers. However, they may still be eligible when receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals if they are instead eligible for the Pupil Premium.

Eligibility for the Pupil Premium is based on the same criteria as for income-related Free School Meals. If you qualify, it means that the school will receive extra funding and you may be entitled to future holiday food vouchers. It is therefore important to apply for it if you believe that your child would qualify.

This is done using the same application form as for income-related Free School Meals and also allows us to check the Department for Education’s eligibility checking system for you.

Visit the Free School Meals page to find out if you are eligible and how to apply

What if I haven’t received a voucher code but my child receives Free School Meals, Talking 2's, Early Years Pupil Premium, the Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium?

If you use more than one email address, please check the inbox of each of them first. Please also check your junk/spam folders to see if our email containing your voucher code has been delivered there by your provider instead.

If not, please email winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk and provide us with your...

  • name
  • address
  • contact phone number
  • your children’s
    • names
    • dates of birth
    • schools/childcare settings they attend

...so that we can investigate for you.