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Holiday Voucher Scheme

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How the Holiday Voucher Scheme works

The Holiday Voucher Scheme provides supermarket vouchers during the school holidays to families of children in Peterborough Schools and Early Years Settings who are receiving:

  • Income based free school meals (pupils in reception to year 11)
  • Early Years Pupil Premium (ages 3 and 4 with a date of birth between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2022)
  • Funded childcare and education for 2 year olds under the income-based criteria (with date of birth between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023)

Post-16 students must be enrolled in further education provision funded via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA):

  • Aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2024 and eligible for free school meals
  • Aged 19 or over and eligible for free school meals and are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 ('19+ continuers')
  • Aged 19 or over and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 ('19+ continuers')
  • Aged 19 to 25 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and accesses the bursary scheme or free school meals in their college

We provide a supermarket voucher per eligible child over the school holiday for families to purchase food. You can choose from 10 different supermarkets to spend your voucher.

If your child is currently receiving one of the above support schemes, and we have your contact details on file, we will send you a voucher link automatically by email or text. You’ll also receive a letter from us via your child's school or early years provider. You do not need to apply separately for the voucher.

All previous rounds of the voucher schemes are now closed, and we are unable to reinstate any unclaimed vouchers or issue vouchers retrospectively.

May Half Term 2025 vouchers

If you have previously received these vouchers, you do not need to apply. If your child/children are still eligible they will be sent automatically.

The May Half Term voucher has a value of £10 per child. You will receive this by email or text on Saturday 24 May 2025. You must claim your voucher by 9:00pm on Sunday 29 June 2025. If you have never received vouchers, please read the rest of this page to find out what to do.

Any children who become eligible up to and including Monday 2 June 2025 will also receive vouchers if an application has been made.

If you expected to receive an email or text and haven’t, please contact holidayvouchersupport@peterborough.gov.uk.

It may take up to 9pm on the day the voucher is sent for it to arrive. If you have more than one eligible child, the voucher links will probably come separately. Please wait until Sunday 25 May 2025 to contact us about any missing vouchers.

How to get supermarket vouchers if you don't already receive them

Your child may be eligible for one of the support schemes above and the vouchers if your family has a low income and you’re receiving one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit / State Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you believe your child may be eligible for income based free school meals, apply using our online form.

Please note Cambridgeshire County Council processes our free school meals on our behalf.

If you believe your child may be eligible for early years pupil premium, you need to apply directly to your childs pre-school, nursery or childminder. They will need to contact the voucher team with the contact detail to send the voucher if the application is successful.

If you believe your child may be eligible for funded childcare and education for 2 year olds under the income-based criteria, apply using our online form.

Where the funding for the vouchers comes from

The Department for Work and Pensions provides funding for the vouchers via the Household Support Fund.

How long is the holiday voucher scheme running?

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that the Household Support Fund has been extended. We will be issuing vouchers again at Easter, May half-term and the summer holiday during 2025. Please keep an eye on this page for more details.

Frequently asked questions

If you do not want / need your voucher, please contact your school's office. Please do not activate, download or claim the voucher. Either delete or ignore the email / text you receive. This way, we can reallocate your voucher to another family in need. Alternatively, please email holidayvouchersupport@peterborough.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 'Evouchers'

• Email from 'no-reply@evouchers.com'

How to claim your voucher:

  • Follow the steps in the message you receive
  • Choose your supermarket (you cannot change this afterwards for this voucher only)
  • Receive voucher to use in-store or online
  • View or download your voucher and scan it at your chosen supermarket

There is also an Evouchers app you can download to make the process of claiming and managing your vouchers even easier.

Any vouchers previously assigned to your email or phone number will appear in your account. Once you have used your voucher with your chosen retailer, you can archive this within the app to avoid confusion with any future vouchers you might receive.

If you haven’t received your voucher, but feel you should have received a voucher (for example you have previously), please contact holidayvouchersupport@peterborough.gov.uk. Please include the name of your child / children and the name of the school or early years setting that attend. They will confirm whether you have received a voucher and how to access it. It may take up to three days to get a reply, or possibly longer during busy periods.

Most vouchers are received within 30 minutes after the retailer is selected. If the parent selects 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).

Where can I use my voucher?
Retailer Can the voucher be used online? When does it expire?
Asda Yes 2 years
Morrisons No 1 year
Tesco No 5 years
Aldi No 5 years
Sainsburys No 2 years
Iceland No 1 year
B&M No 1 year
Farmfoods No 2 years
M&S Yes 2 years from last transaction
Waitrose Yes 2 years

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, scratch cards (or related material), alcohol or anything through Aldi's website.

• Tesco: Cannot be used in petrol stations.

• Sainsburys: 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.

If you've received the link for a voucher, it means you're eligible. These vouchers are provided in connection with free school meals and funded childcare for two-year-olds from low-income families. Using them will not affect your asylum status.

We recommend you first contact support@evouchers.com if you can’t get your voucher. Alternatively, you can email holidayvouchersupport@peterborough.gov.uk.

£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

Morrison's

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

Sainsbury's

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

Please use Asda's online balance checker.

Other queries

Contact Asda Gift Cards online 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.

Aldi

You can check the balance of ALDI Digital Gift Card at the checkout in-store.

If you have any queries about the voucher please contact vouchers@aldi.co.uk. You will need to provide the full voucher code and inform them that the gift-card was purchased by Wonde.

Iceland

How to check the balance of a voucher

Please follow the instructions on the link: Iceland Gift Card

Other queries
Please contact Iceland’s customer service on 0800 328 0800

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

Please use the M&S 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

Waitrose

How to check the balance of a voucher

Please follow the instructions on the link: Check Waitrose balance

If you have any queries about the voucher please contact 0330 123 0350

Further details about other support in your local area can be found at the following link:

• Household Support Fund - Peterborough City Council

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.

Additional Support

Benefit calculator

Discover what benefits you could be eligible for with our calculator. Powered by entitled to, it is free to use, and designed to make your life easier.

Last updated: 15 May 2025