Food costs for children and families

If you’re getting certain benefits, your child (including post-16 students at sixth form or college) may be entitled to free school meals. Secondary school children who are entitled to free school meals might also qualify for help with school transport costs. 

If you get a qualifying benefit you’ll be able to get regular food and milk vouchers to help buy fruit, vegetables and milk for those who are pregnant or have a child under 4 through Healthy Start.

Get food vouchers for school holidays through the holiday voucher scheme. Free activities and food for children during the school holidays is also available through the Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. 

Accessing affordable food

The vast majority of foodbanks and food hubs in South Cambridgeshire are easy to access, as you are able to turn up on the day and no voucher is required. For more information and to see details of your nearest foodbank or food hub, please visit our dedicated foodbanks page.

For the foodbanks that you do need a voucher for, you can get this by emailing duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk us with your phone number.

For more help with food, you may find the following apps helpful:

• OLIO – this app gives you access to ‘not needed’ food in Cambridge for free
• Too Good To Go – this app helps you to search for unsold food near you that you can buy at a lower price

• Cambridge Sustainable Food – get tips on how to limit food waste at home

Please note that when we signpost or refer to external organisations for services this is not an endorsement or a recommendation of an external organisation or private individual by South Cambridgeshire District Council. We encourage residents to carry out their own research to compare different service providers to best meet their needs.