A single mum said she was in tears after finding out support for school holiday meals would be cut in half.
In 2021, Shropshire Council made £90 of vouchers available to eligible families over the summer holidays, but this has now been reduced to £45.
Shrewsbury’s Claire Herzig said it “creates more pressure”.
Shropshire Council shares money from the Government’s Budget Support Fund with families who are entitled to free school meals and eligible pensioners.
The government requires at least one-third of the funds to go to vulnerable households with children, at least one-third of the funds to pensioners, and the remainder of the funds (up to one-third) may go to other vulnerable households.
“I know it’s only £45 but for a single parent it’s a lot of money and that just adds to the pressure,” said Ms Herzig, who lives with their nine-year-old daughter Ella.
“I was in tears at work wondering how I’m going to pay my bills this month.”
In Shropshire, 5,500 children qualified for free school meals in 2021.
They have traditionally only been provided during term times, but during the pandemic many local authorities decided to fund them over the holiday period too following a campaign by England footballer Marcus Rashford.
It was paid for from the government’s Budget Support Fund, which now has to be shared by other vulnerable groups as well.
Other communities, including Worcestershire, have also reduced meal vouchers in response.
With the cost-of-living crisis also leading to soaring prices, Ms Herzig said she and Ella simply can’t afford to take summer trips.
“We paid living expenses, but that’s already been swallowed up on bills,” she said. “My gas and electricity bills have gone up by £100 this month.”
Kirstie Hurst-Knight, portfolio owner at Shropshire Council for Children and Education, said the agency understands that “times are tough with the cost of living crisis”.
There will be additional support for families in Shropshire, she added, including through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme.
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