NEARLY £700,000 has been split between BCP and Dorset Councils to help keep vulnerable children warm and well-fed over the Easter period.

Councils in the south west will receive a joint £5.2million as part of the Covid winter grant scheme for the Easter holidays, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed.

Of this £5.2 million, BCP Council will receive £371,401, while Dorset Council has been given £320,584.

And the funding means food vouchers will be available for children receiving free school meals in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Councillor Nicola Greene, portfolio holder for Covid resilience, schools and skills, said: “The Covid winter support grant funding received by BCP Council has been allocated to help support families in need of food over the Easter Holidays.

“Families of children claiming benefits-related free school meals will receive a supermarket voucher for the Easter holiday period from their schools. Children receiving two-year-old funding or early years pupil premium are also eligible for a £30 food voucher for the Easter holiday.

“We know that there are many vulnerable people out there including families with children who will be struggling financially.

“This grant money will be used to ensure that there is dedicated support available to help families to access food over the Easter holidays.”

Devon Council received the biggest grant, being given £710,157.

More than £50 million of new funding across England comes in addition to the £170 million already allocated to the scheme from December until the end of March, and is on top of the previously announced holiday activities and food programme to support disadvantaged children during the Easter period.

And the Covid winter grant scheme will no run until April 16, the DWP confirmed.

Secretary of state for work and pensions Thérèse Coffey said: “This scheme has helped thousands of vulnerable children stay warm and well-fed during the coldest months of the year.

“While circumstances remain difficult, it is right that we extend it to cover Easter, and I want any worried parent to know there is help at hand.”

Of the £170million already granted, BCP Council has received £1,068,327.58 and Dorset Council has had £922,153.80.

The Daily Echo contacted Dorset Council for a statement and at the time of going to print had not received a reply.