28/5/2009 - County Council cash boost helps parents pay for school clothing

Thousands of parents throughout Cumbria will be able to apply for a new school clothing grant from Monday (1st June.) It’s part of Cumbria County Council’s commitment to reduce childhood poverty and help families during the recession. 

The scheme is worth £25 per year for primary pupils and £35 per year for secondary school pupils in Cumbria.

It is automatically available to any child who is entitled to a free school meal.

There are currently more than four thousand primary and two-and-a-half thousand secondary pupils who receive school meals.

In order to reduce bureaucracy parents will only need to make a single application and provide proof of entitlement once. 

This means parents who can provide proof that they're claiming income support, job seekers allowance, child tax credit (but not working tax credit), support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or guarantee element of state pension credit will be able to get both free school meals and the school clothing grant simultaneously.

The county council has allocated £293,000 for the grant in its budget for 2009-10 and £275,000 for the following two years.

Letters are being sent to parents already receiving free school meals to alert them to the clothing grant eligibility.

All new primary and secondary school parents or guardians will also receive letters via their schools with full details about eligibility and how to apply.

Information and posters will be placed in and around schools.

For help and advice parents can contact the Children and Families Information Service on 08457 125 737 or email childrens.information@cumbriacc.gov.uk

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Paul Bell on 01228 226337