Portsmouth families will receive £30 food vouchers this winter to support children through the cold months. Children on benefits-related free school meals will automatically receive vouchers, whilst other low-income households can apply from mid-December.
Children registered for benefits-related free school meals across Portsmouth will receive a £30 supermarket voucher automatically through their educational establishment. The Portsmouth food vouchers should arrive in early December, with no application required from families. Parents who don’t receive their voucher should contact their child’s school directly.
Portsmouth food vouchers will also be available for families with children aged 0-19 who earn £1,870 or less monthly (total household income) and whose children aren’t registered for free school meals. Applications open on 18 December 2025 for eligible families who don’t qualify through schools.
The extended scheme also welcomes applications from households with someone 20 weeks or more pregnant, families with home-educated children, and families receiving school meal vouchers but with additional children not attending school (aged 0-4 or 16-19).
The scheme runs from 18 December 2025 until Thursday 26 February 2026, closing at 12pm noon. Early closure may occur if funding is fully allocated.
Applications can be submitted at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/household-support.
Both Portsmouth food vouchers schemes receive funding through the UK Government’s household support fund, distributed by Portsmouth City Council. Previous schemes provided £50 vouchers to families. The reduction to £30 vouchers reflects decreased household support funding allocated to Portsmouth, though officials hope this will still assist families throughout winter.
- Portsmouth Local Plan consultation launched
- Portsmouth welcomes new veterans support centres
- Portsmouth Seeks Supported Lodgings Carers
HAF Fun Pompey Programme Returns
The popular holiday activities and food programme returns for winter school holidays, offering complimentary places for children receiving benefits-related free school meals. HAF bookings commence on Saturday 22 November at 9am. Registration information is available on the HAF Fun Pompey website
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “Last summer we handed out over 11,000 vouchers to low-income Portsmouth families through our schools and our extended scheme, and we expect to help a similar number this winter.
“With the return of HAF and other support schemes on offer, as well as the wider cost of living help available to all, we are determined to keep supporting the many Portsmouth households still battling with rising living costs”.
Online applications offer the quickest processing for Portsmouth food vouchers, though telephone support is available for those requiring assistance. Families can ring the council on 023 9268 8010 for help with applications.
The council’s cost of living hub website provides comprehensive information covering food assistance, energy and travel bills, low-cost activities, money and debt advice, housing, employment, and health and wellbeing support.
The cost of living helpline operates weekdays from 9am to 5pm (closing at 4.30pm on Fridays) on 023 9284 1047.
