South Tyneside families set to benefit from school uniform support
Families across South Tyneside are set to receive school uniform support ahead of the next academic year.
Eligible South Tyneside families are set to receive extra support this summer to help with the costs of school uniform and other essentials.
South Tyneside Council is providing supermarket vouchers to families whose children are starting Reception, Year 3, Year 7 or where they are moving to a separate junior school.
School uniform vouchers
The vouchers will help with the cost of school uniform and other items - with eligible families set to be contacted directly by schools with information on how to receive the vouchers.
Councillor Michelle Fascione, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at South Tyneside Council, said: “Starting school or moving up to a new one is an exciting milestone, and we want every child in South Tyneside to feel ready and confident from day one.
“This support will help families with the cost of essentials while making it easier to access the wider help that is available.
“We know supermarkets often offer good value for money on school uniforms at this time of year, and we hope this extra support helps families make the most of those savings.”
Support platform
Families will also be connected to a wider range of financial help through the Council’s free, secure online portal Lightning Reach.
The platform aims to bring together a wide range of support in one place to make it easier for residents to see what they may be entitled to and apply quickly.
Once registered, residents can create a single online profile which matches them to relevant schemes and allows them to apply for multiple forms of support in one place.
It will help with things such as energy bills, household essentials and other everyday costs.
Lightning Reach is designed to ensure that families receive help at key moments, while also giving them the tools to access longer-term support and improve their financial resilience.
Cllr Fascione added: “By bringing everything together in one place through Lightning Reach, we are also helping residents quickly see what they’re entitled to and get the support they need, both now and in the future.”
If you’d like more information about the Lightning Reach platform, then visit: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/lightningreach.