SHROPSHIRE has been awarded more than £841,000 under the Government’s COVID Winter Grant scheme to ensure children and their families don’t go hungry this winter.

The scheme is set to provide support to vulnerable households and families with children particularly affected by the pandemic throughout the winter period.

A large portion of the money will go towards providing free school meals over the Christmas, February half term and the Easter holidays. This will be arranged via schools and nurseries.

The funding will also provide extra support to families – with or without children – up until March 31 2021, if they are in hardship and struggling with their food and utility bills.

Families and individuals who are struggling and would like to access help and support can contact the council’s Welfare Support Team on 0345 678 9028.

Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire Council, said the priority of the authority has been to help the most vulnerable.