Free school meals extended over the holiday- are they needed?

[GotAnyGrapes17]

Have been chatting about this with various people during the day. Opinions go from "if you can't afford a couple of quid a week to feed your kids something is wrong" to people feeling this is a hugely essential scheme.

I just wondered if anyone who is entitled for FSM genuinely struggles during school holidays with out them.

No judgment here, my child use to be entitled to free school meals, however I didn't miss them during the school holidays....I am just interested to hear other views.

Lochjessmonster I don't use the NHS, Don't claim benefits, don't have children so no schooling,I am a net contributor meaning I pay for everyone's children, including yours,and I am delighted to do so in fact I would pay more if asked. Most of the benefits claimed in this country are in work benefits, employers bleating on that they can't pay anymore than minimum pay so the taxpayer is left to pick up the bill and as usual people blame the employees although the finger should be pointed at the employers,I think your attitude stinks

@Newyorkhereicome You can think what ever you like, I am allowed an opinion.
Luckily, my opinion doesn’t count for things like this, so the children will still get fed...

This thread has made me feel incredibly sad that we live in a society where people genuinely have a problem with children receiving a free meal

Same

This thread is so so sad.

People didn't care about the cost of Brexit they just wanted it done.
What about the hs2 ? Got plenty of money for that.
Bail out the airlines? Yep loads for that
Bail out the banks? Even more for that

Feed hungry kids? KIDS FFS- no way! I don't want my tax being used to feed HUNGRY KIDS

Honestly. Have a word with yourself if you're arguing against feeding poor children.

@LochJessMonster and you are really angry they are getting fed aren't you, despite the fact that you are t paying for it at all

Go and volunteer at your local foodbank - see just how many people are stuggling to afford food.
Demand at our local foodbank has doubled recently with people losing their jobs

Can I just clear up that I never said I begrudged FSM being extended over the holidays.
Nobody on her has said "let the kids go hungry" which is what some of you have implied.
Man, do you think everyone is some kind of monster that wants to take the food literally off of kid plates.
I was just saying- I hadn't heard of the need for it first hand, and felt I should in order to come to a balanced opinion.

@waitingforadulthood I really hope things getter better quickly- do you know when your UC payment is due?

@Graphista great post.

Nobody on her has said "let the kids go hungry" At least one person has said they don't want to feed other people's children. Ok not the exact wording of let the kids go hungry but if tax money isn't spent in school free meals then the kids will go hungry so that is what is implied.

They were always needed. Teachers and everybody else involved in the education system have been saying this for years. Hopefully they last longer than just this summer.

I think this should be in place every year and every school holidays.

2007millie, thank you. Honestly I'm happy despite my poor ness. Right now I'm too poor but it won't last. I'm happy and healthy, but ashamed of my circumstance. I can't get another job until my daughter is safely back in school, but as I'm happy to do anything, I will get another and meanwhile, needs must. Thankfully I'm in Wales, where the debate over whether we deserve to eat has never been in question

When I was small, the only guaranteed food came in the milk and veg vouchers which could only be spent on that.

For every child like me, who wouldn't be fed without ring fenced food money, I am glad that this is being continued. If that means that some children are given food money that's not strictly needed, then so be it.

I have been fed squirrels. Road kill. Nothing at all for day after day. Stolen leftovers from other families. £15 a week which could only be spent in the supermarket and on food could have stopped that. It will for some children this summer. That can only be a good thing.

I’d like to say I can’t believe how many nasty people are on here, ‘ I’m not entitled so nobody else should be’. Unfortunately I’m really not surprised.

This is Mumsnet and some people here would see kids go hungry? No matter what the reason, a hungry child in this country is a disgrace. Shame on you

I'm confused I know currently all r yr 1 and 2 get school meals so does that mean they will all get the vouchers too regardless of income ?

no they don't @strugglingwithdeciding - the vouchers are means tested

@Herja bit it seems the £15 can be spent on more than just food according to some

@AnnaNimmity thanks that makes more sense should be for those that need it although appreciate some will not qualify who actually maybe slightly worse off on disposable income after rent , bills etc

bit it seems the £15 can be spent on more than just food according to some

Or the extra £15 in the budget means the parent can buy a new top (I have seen adult clothes given as an example of non food purchases elsewhere) where before they would have to keep wearing clothes that need replacing. And they get it in a supermarket so it all goes through together and looks like the voucher is paying for non food items.

I am sure that there are people taking the piss with vouchers bit the problem with individual stories of what one person saw in one shop or heard from a friend is that it is just anecdotal. It doesn't tell you the full population level picture. We shouldn't judge a policy by anecdata (especially on topics like this where people love stories about people abusing the system).

This is why I like MN (even though most times lately hate it when I see prejudice and injustice which seems to be all the time lately!)
As in it gives a window into other people's viewpoints.
I've learnt and challenged my thinking a lot on here over the years I've been on here, I'm definitely much more liberal as a result on a range of topics.
Think I even started a foodbank one in all innocence back in the day and got my arse handed to me rightly
Children need feeding, parents need some semblance of normality and if that means a bottle of wine or convenience food every now and again whatever then so be it.
We shouldn't judge.

@Speckledhen10

£15 a week per child. What the hell are they eating caviar ? I’m a nurse on band 5 with 2DC. I earn approx £200 a month more by nursing full time rather than being on benefits and doing sweet fa. I have to also pay for a car (think old banger) & hospital parking. So in August if I was on benefits I would have received £120 more with these vouchers. That’s really pissed me off knowing I’ll be working for £80 in August. Thank you Marcus. You obviously have no respect for nurses (and many other key workers on similar wages)

This is an utterly ridiculous post

I am pleased for the many kids who might otherwise go hungry. I do wish though that shops would not accept them for customers buying cigarettes or alcohol. The kids need the hot meals not just sandwiches.

If we can afford £200bn on brexit and we haven't even experienced the tip of that iceberg then yes we can feed our kids.

Now if Rees-Mogg actually paid tax on his companies profits rather than registering it in the Cayman islands then we could easily afford it.

@LochJessMonster

I agree with *@Sweetlikecoca* and (scarily) Katie Hopkins. I don’t want to be feeding other people’s children. Pandemics aren’t the only reason people lose jobs.

What do you think should happen to those children who don't have enough food?

Some of the posts on this thread are horrifying.

However, there are more posts that recognise how fortunate most of us are and that the most vulnerable children are the ones who need and should be given the most help.