Aldi has launched a back-to-school fund to aid families.

This comes as research shows that around three quarters of parents are concerned about the costs associated with the start of the academic year.

As part of this fund, parents in Cumbria can apply for £100 Aldi vouchers throughout September.

This is to help with the costs of everyday essentials after the back-to-school period.

The supermarket chain is also donating £20,000 to causes that focus on supporting children, including schools and nurseries in Cumbria.

This donation is made via the community giving platform Neighbourly, helping to provide essentials to families most in need.

Research from Aldi revealed that parents spend just over £100 per child during the back-to-school period on items such as shoes, pencil cases, and lunchboxes.

The costs continue throughout the year, with parents spending an average of £23 a week on packed lunches and £90 on after-school clubs or extra-curricular activities.

Liz Fox, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: "We know the back-to-school period can be a real pinch point for family finances, especially after having to contend with keeping the kids entertained during the summer school holidays.

"As the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket, we’re committed to doing whatever we can to support parents in making their money go further and that’s why we’re giving parents an extra helping hand via our back-to-school fund this September.

“We’re giving our customers the chance to apply for vouchers to help parents cover the cost of packed lunches and other essentials that they’ll need to stock up on throughout the school year.”

Parents interested in applying for Aldi’s back-to-school fund need to email AldiBTSFund@citypress.co.uk by September 30.

100 people will be chosen to receive a £100 voucher throughout the month.

Aldi has a long-standing partnership with Neighbourly, supporting its commitment to making fresh, healthy food accessible for everyone.

Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly CEO, said: "We support many thousands of good causes across the UK that directly support families, and this additional funding from Aldi will provide a vital lifeline for them to cover the cost of essentials for the parents and children who need it most."