Post Office supports families on free school meals with Payout Vouchers scheme

The Post Office is pleased to announce the continued strong growth of its long-standing Post Office Payout voucher service, as local Postmasters support families with children eligible for free school meals over the summer period. Established in 2006, the Post Office Payout service has seen significant growth in the last five years, as Post Office continues to support those most vulnerable.

This year, the Post Office is significantly increasing its efforts to support communities across the UK, with over 1 million cash payouts via the Payout service anticipated. This is up 30% year on year, and up 170% over the past three years, as families have struggled during a prolonged period of high inflation, high energy prices and cost of living crisis.

In partnership with local authorities, the Post Office Payout service continues to facilitate payments for essential needs such as school meals and uniform grants. This highlights the growing importance of the Payout service and the role Postmasters provide in facilitating the scheme, particularly its ability to provide cash payments, which are crucial for ensuring immediate access to financial resources for those in need.

The Payout service is a versatile payment solution, allowing businesses and organisations across various sectors—including public sector bodies, local governments, energy companies, charities, and financial institutions—to make cash payments or provide energy top-ups. This service is particularly beneficial for those who do not have access to mainstream banking services or who are in vulnerable situations and underscores the Post Office’s role in ensuring financial assistance reaches those most in need promptly and efficiently.

The Post Office Payout voucher scheme provides £15 per child per week to eligible families, distributed via email or post with a unique barcode that can be redeemed for cash at all Post Office branches. This method ensures accessibility for families without internet access, and is intended for families whose children qualify for income-based free school meals, including those in local schools and Early Years settings with similar eligibility criteria. The vouchers can be used for essential items like groceries, utilities, and household necessities, offering flexibility to help families manage their resources effectively. The system is designed to be inclusive and straightforward, allowing vouchers to be redeemed at over 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK, ensuring support is accessible even to those without bank accounts.

Simon Lambert, Commercial & Operations Director at the Post Office, said: "The Payout voucher scheme really exemplifies everything Post Office stands for: providing support for those who need it, in an easy and accessible way, led by Postmasters at the heart of their local communities. We know that for families who access free school meals, summer holidays can often be a tough time, such as in parts of Cornwall, London and Yorkshire, where uptake of the voucher scheme is at its highest. That’s why we’re glad Post Office is able to help facilitate the voucher scheme for communities across the UK whilst supporting Postmasters drive footfall and revenue.”