Parents to get £100 for PE kits in Wales

As reported by the BBC News, the government in Wales will offer a one-off payment of £100 to help families struggling to pay bills

From summer 2022, families with children of all school years who receive free school meals (FSM), will also be able to apply for money to pay for PE kits.

The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) aims to combat the UK’s cost of living crisis.

Jeremy Miles, the Welsh education minister, stated “Many parents will be worried about how they can afford the things their children need for school.”

“This extra payment will help cover other costs, such as PE kits, school shoes and other equipment, helping household budgets go a little bit further” Miles said.

Sir Keir Starmer commented “Imagine what we could do if we had this Welsh government working together with a Labour government in Westminster – what a change we could make and what a difference we could bring to millions of lives.

The Labour leader described the grant as “a blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK”.

Welsh Labour ministers have announced the government will invest £24.1m to ensure free school meals are available in 2022. The move is part of a promise from November 2021, made in co-operation with Plaid Cymru.