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Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme

Page Contents

Introduction

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement in February, we have received notification that the Household Support Fund will continue through to September 2024. This, along with additional funding provided by the County Council, allows us to continue to offer our holiday voucher scheme to eligible families from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Letter to parents and carers

Read the holiday voucher scheme letter to parents and carers. 

Eligibility

Vouchers will be issued to the value of £15 per eligible child per week as shown below:

Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme funding basis and value

Funding basis

Voucher value

Easter

2 weeks

£30

May Half Term

1 week

£15

Summer

5 weeks

£75

October Half Term

1 week

£15

Christmas

2 weeks

£30

February Half Term

1 week

£15

Total

12 weeks

£180

We will therefore issue a £15 supermarket voucher to cover the May 2024 half term holiday period. This will be sent on 25 May 2024 to those families meeting the low income criteria for the following support:

  • Free school meals
  • Funded childcare for 2-year-olds
  • Early years pupil premium
  • Students in Sixth Form eligible for Free School Meals (young people aged 16-19)

If your child receives Universal Infant Free School Meals (in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) but you do not meet the low income criteria for free school meals, you will not be eligible for a supermarket voucher for the school holidays.

To check if your child may be eligible for free school meals, please visit our free school meals page or apply by completing our online application form.

For parents resident in Cambridgeshire who have children accessing education provision outside of the county, this scheme is open for you to apply.

Where we are aware of children attending schools outside of the area, we will allocate a voucher automatically. If you haven’t received a voucher and would like to apply, we need to check your eligibility. Please complete our online application form below. If you are eligible, we will allocate a voucher.

The voucher scheme for each holiday period will close on the last day of each holiday period and we will not be able to backdate any vouchers.

We are aware of other Local Authorities providing similar schemes and we will not provide a voucher where another authority is funding a voucher.

How to apply

Please apply by completing the online application form.

How the vouchers work

Prior to the school holidays, eligible parents/carers will receive a text or email inviting them to choose a supermarket for the voucher.

The text message will come from ‘SchoolMeals’.

The email will come from ‘vouchers@wonde.com’ (please check your junk folder).

If you haven’t received a voucher but feel you should have or if you have a question about your voucher, please email holidayvoucherscheme@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Please include the name of your child(ren) and the early years setting or school they attend. We cannot locate vouchers without this information. We aim to respond to you within three working days.

Frequently asked questions for parents and carers

For the May Half Term Holiday, our support is focused on providing supermarket vouchers for families eligible for income-based support. The criteria for access are available with the letter that accompanies this document.Further information on the Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme can be found here 

Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme - Cambridgeshire County Council 

If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, Early Years Pupil Premium, Funded 2-year-old support or is 16-19 and eligible for free school meals or the 16+ bursary, you will automatically receive a voucher.

If you do not want/need your voucher, please do not activate it. Either delete or ignore the email/text you receive, or do not open the link and download the voucher. This way, we can reallocate your voucher to another family in need.

Alternatively please email holidayvoucherscheme@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and the voucher will be removed.

You will receive a text or email to choose your supermarket choice for the voucher.

•Text message from 'SchoolMeals'

•Email from 'vouchers@wonde.com'

Once you have chosen your supermarket, you will receive your voucher by text or email. You can then click the link in the text or email and download your voucher code. You can then use this voucher in your chosen supermarket. You must choose your supermarket before you can receive your voucher. Please choose carefully as once you have selected the supermarket; this can’t be changed. You can choose a different supermarket for each voucher you receive.

You can also access your voucher via the new EVouchers app.

If you’ve been sent an Evoucher by text message or email, this app will enable you to easily access your existing and new vouchers through your registered account. If you’re new to Evouchers.com, you’re also able to register for an account through the app. Any vouchers previously assigned to your email address or mobile number will appear in your account.

There may be a number of reasons for this such as

  • If you selected your supermarket choice after 12pm that day, your voucher will arrive the following day.
  • You made your supermarket choice after 12pm on a Friday. You'll receive your voucher on Monday.

Most vouchers are received within 30 minutes after the retailer is selected. If you select Morrisons or Asda then the following timings apply:

  • If selected before 1pm, the voucher will be received that evening.
  • If selected after 1pm, the voucher will be received the following working day.

Yes, you can. If your shopping comes to more than the voucher total, you will need to pay the remaining balance using another method (i.e. debit card).

We will issue each eligible a voucher for £15 by the end of the day on Saturday 25 May 2024. If you have not received your voucher by Sunday 26 May 2024, please contact holidayvoucherscheme@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Please include in any correspondence the name of your child and the name of the school or early years setting they attend.

You have until 3pm on Friday 5th July 2024 to select the supermarket and claim the vouchers. If you don’t claim by this point the voucher will be removed. We are not able to reinstate removed vouchers. Once claimed, each supermarket has different expiry dates but all last over a year.

If you haven’t received contact by Sunday 26th May 2024 but feel you should have received a voucher, please contact holidayvoucherscheme@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Please include the name of your child / children and the name of the school or early years setting that attend. We will confirm whether you have received a voucher and how to access it. It may take up to 3 days to get a reply.

The following supermarkets will accept the voucher:

Retailer

Can the voucher be used online?

When does it expire?

Asda

Yes

2 Years from last transaction

Morrisons

No

1 Year

Aldi

No

5 Years

Tesco

No

5 Years

Sainsbury's

Yes

2 Years

Iceland

No

2 Years

Waitrose

Yes

2 Years

Farmfoods

No

1 Year

M&S

Yes

2 Years from last transaction

B&M

No

1 Year

Yes, you can.

The restrictions for each supermarket are listed below:

  • Asda: Cannot be used in Petrol stations or to purchase tobacco products, stamps, lottery or phone top-ups.
  • Morrisons: Cannot be used for gift-card or lottery purchases.
  • Aldi: Cannot be used for the purchasing of gift cards, lottery tickets, scratchcards (or related material), alcohol or anything through ALDI’s website.
  • Tesco: Cannot be used in petrol stations. Cannot be used in Morrisons Daily stores or Morrisons fuel stations.
  • Sainsbury’s: Cannot be used in petrol stations, pharmacies, branded gift cards, scratch cards, LPG autogas, infant formula, tobacco and related products, BT phone cards, E top-up, savings stamps, postage stamps, National lottery products, online delivery charges, concession coffee shops and restaurants
  • Iceland: Cannot be used for alcohol.
  • Farmfoods: Cannot be used online.

You will receive a voucher for each child separately.

You will receive a £15 voucher for the May Half Term Holiday which will be sent on Saturday 25th May 2024.

£0 balance queries

If the voucher is showing as a £0 balance, please contact the supermarket using the details below.

Gift card not working

Check the gift card has a balance. Often gift cards do not work because the balance has already been spent. Please ensure the 'Gift Card' option is selected at a self-checkout. You may also need to remind staff that they are gift cards and not vouchers.

If you have issues with any of the vouchers please contact the supermarket as they will be able to resolve the issue.

TESCO

How to check the balance of a voucher

Balances can be checked by calling 03450 757 757

Other queries

For all other enquiries please call 0800 505555

MORRISONS

How to check the balance of a voucher

When first accessing the voucher it shows the opening balance, you then need to press ‘check balance’ which show an updated balance.

Other queries

If you have any queries about the voucher card please call 0344 3815042 or email morrisonsgiftcardservice@bhnetwork.com

SAINSBURYS

How to check the balance of a voucher

Balances can be checked by calling 0800 636262

Other queries

Contact Sainsbury’s on 0800 636262

ASDA

How to check the balance of a voucher

Please use the online balance checker; https://cards.asda.com/

Other queries

https://cards.asda.com/contactus or Phone: 0800 952 0101

Disputing a spent voucher

School/parent will need to contact Asda directly on; 0800 952 0101 and select option 2.

Please note: Asda will only respond to Wonde regarding any gift-card queries. If you require more information about an Asda voucher, please email the gift-card number to support@wonde.com and we will forward this to Asda.

ICELAND

How to check the balance of a voucher

Please follow the instructions on the link below; https://www.love2shop.co.uk/balance

Other Queries

https://www.love2shop.co.uk/customer-support

FARMFOODS

How to check the balance of a voucher You can check the balance of your voucher by going to any Farmfoods checkout. Alternatively, a voucher statement is printed at the bottom of your receipt after each transaction

Other Queries Please contact them directly using their online contact form

M&S

How to check the balance of a voucher Please use their online balance checker

Other Queries Please contact them directly on 0333 014 8000#

B&M

How to check the balance of a voucher You can check out your balance at any checkout in store or by calling 0191 607 8281.

Other Queries If you have any queries about the voucher please contact 0191 607 8281

The Council is working with schools and education providers to ensure families are supported during this time. To find out about other help and support available in your local area; you will find further details at the following links:

Further support can also be found here:

  • Citizens Advice- online free advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem.
  • Making Money Count- offering everyday help with money, being online, finding work and renting.
  • County Council’s webpages on support with the cost of living provide information on accessing grants and debt advice, support on getting all the money you're entitled to and more information about the government's recent support measures. The page also contains a link for the Council’s Household Support Fund. This fund, which has wide eligibility criteria, provides direct financial support and a gateway to more personalised offers which are intended to provide longer-term help. It is easy to apply to the fund, details and a link to the application form are on the webpage. There is also a telephone application route for pensioners through our partners Age UK Cambridge & Peterborough on 01223 221929. On this page you can also find a link to Connecting Cambridgeshire where you can find information about low-cost broadband deals and mobile tariffs.