Free school meals holiday vouchers ending, worried about affording holiday outings

[elliejjtiny]

Free school meals holiday vouchers are going.

I know people are going to say don't have children you can't afford etc etc.

But when our youngest was born dh had a good job, I was a SAHM and we could afford stuff.

We can still afford to feed us and the dc but those vouchers meant we could afford to go out once in the school holidays. Not to alton towers or anything like that but somewhere local like an interactive museum or soft play. These outings mean so much as the dc are getting older and I am conscious that our time with them being able to do stuff like this is running out. Our food shopping bill goes up a lot during the holidays as well.

I wouldn't mind if we could use the HAF scheme as that would give the dc the opportunity to go out and do something fun but we can't because of the dc SEN.

Thank you. We are in the south west. Dc1 is at uni but he works part time in the holidays.

The 2 children cap thing being lifted only applies to children born after 2017. All our children were born before 2017 so we are already getting the child element of UC for the younger 4 dc.

We already have a max card, although it ran out so I need to get it renewed. Younger 3 get DLA. Haven't got a cinema card yet as younger 2 have only recently been able to sit through a film at the cinema.

Younger 2 were contraceptive failures. Dh and I both begged to be sterilized several times after dc3 but we were told no. Dh had a vasectomy when I was pregnant with dc5. I know I could have had terminations but I've had 2 traumatic miscarriages and I couldn't bear to do it.

Dh got the sack shortly after dc5 was born for taking too much unpaid leave. He went self employed after that but the dcs needs have got greater as they get older and he can't work any more hours than he does. I always said I would go back to work part time when the dc are all sleeping through the night but that hasn't happened yet.

The dc enjoy the park but the older children there tease them because they have to have a parent with them (the children older than 7 or 8 are mostly there on their own) and the parents of the younger children moan that my dc shouldn't be at the park because they are too old.

We try and go on days out where you can go for free for the rest of the year. We have done Plymouth aquarium and the tank museum in dorset. We are the curious in Bristol does a no questions asked low income discount so we go there once a year too. They like theme parks although we can't afford those, the dc in secondary school go to one of the local ones once a year on a school trip and their grandparents take the older 3 one at a time every couple of years on rotation. They won't take the younger 2 as they can't manage their disabilities.

The dc enjoy the beach, although the ones near us are more mud than sand, I'm on the look out for a beach that's good for paddling and sandcastles further away.

They like interactive museums, 11 year old especially likes playing in the water play that some of them have (techniquest in cardiff has one). He loves water and anything sensory. 12 year old loves science and seeing how things work. 15 and 17 year olds would rather be at home on the computer but they usually enjoy themselves when they get there. 15 year old and 12 year old love to do things with friends but their friends tend to have SEN as well so it's hard work and they need a lot of supervision. We sometimes go on a joint trip with another family who have dc with SEN, they love that.

The 'advice' that she supposedly gave, was of no use though. Many people, have no money once food, and bills are taken care of, to save anyway. The OP is not stupid, that she would not be aware to save a bit, if she could. Having children with disabilities is hard, and expensive.

With that degree of disability, the youngest 3 should be on the highest rate of DLA which is just under £190/week per child. I’m amazed that isn’t enough to pay for outings in half term..

I haven't read the full thread but I just wanted to let you know you'll be entitled to DLA and an access card that can give free carers tickets to days out. If you've not already got these things it is definitely worth looking into and may help with the costs of days out once the school voucher scheme ends.

The children may not be on those rates, and even if they are, nobody knows the full needs of the OP's children, and what she needs to do to manage their disabilities, day to day.

Younger 3 get dla. 15 and 12 year olds get middle rate care and low rate mobility. 11 year old gets high rate care, low rate mobility. Most of it goes on the car, clothes and washing powder.

It sounds really hard OP. Four tweens/teens kids some with additional needs and mobility disabilities is really hard.

I would definitely aim for beaches and picnics - we have taken our dc to Bournemouth in February and as long as it isn’t pouring with rain there’s still fun to be had (and cold paddling! Take spare clothes!). A packet of chips shared between the kids to warm up, a flask of hot tea and hot chocolate and a load of chunky cheese and onion sandwiches, you’re golden!

Can you get to Dawlish Warren perhaps from where you are?

I also have a great time at home with my kids planting seeds every year. Plant herbs and some flowers and put them on the kids window sills. You can usually pick up free seeds at your library, and ask online if someone has spare flower pots or compost.

This thread is a good example of how the country can’t afford it all anymore, expectations are just way too high. Both my parents worked, my mum evenings around us children. We didn’t expect days out in the holidays, although in fairness there wasn’t so much stuff/entertainment then. Holidays were either camping or with grandparents.

The country cannot keep paying for people to have loads of children, you have 5 OP! Lunches do not need to be expensive - beans on toast, eggs, sandwich etc. it’ll be a good time to manage your children’s expectations. Many who are working full time can’t afford these things OP, not only are they paying in full for everything they’re bit getting any free stuff/discounts.

Free days out - the beach, the park, walks, go the garden centre and look at the plants. Lots of NT properties it’s free to go to the grounds. Play games at home etc

Having a day out at the beach, may be free, once there, but getting there can cost a lot of money, for either petrol, or train fare prices. We don't all live within walking distance of a beach!

@elliejjtiny you say south west - are you in Gloucestershire? You don't have to to answer on the thread obviously. But if you are, join the Gloucestershire Parent and Carer Alliance FB page. They run loads of activities and subsidised days out for families with additional needs over the holidays.

OP, I’m really sorry if I’ve missed it in your posts, but are you getting the child disability element for each of your children in your UC? And the carers element? I’m only mentioning this as I see many people who aren’t in receipt of this and should be getting it.

Im not sure why you think they would all be on HRC and,HRM ?
Maybe they are but its extremely difficult to get paticularly the HRM component
And people expect DLA to pay for absolutely everything.

Our council is being given a chunk of money to support this.

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/news/article/2905/oldham_council_secures_57_million_to_support_residents_through_financial_crisis

From 1 April, the 12-month programme will fund a range of support, including:
Crisis support:

• Supermarket vouchers worth £15 at May half-term and £50 over the summer holidays for around 21,000 children eligible for Free School Meals, including pre-school children and college-age care leavers.

Not being funny but I don’t want my taxes going on other peoples days out, especially when I claim nothing and can’t afford to go out. Breed them feed them. So entitled.

Did your parents hsve seversl children with disabilities?

No your not being funny at all
Neither do you get a say in where your taxes go.

Not necessarily, my DD has very complex needs but gets middle rate care. Most of that is taken up with the additional costs of her disability - it wouldn’t cover days out by any means.

I agree with this. I grew up on benefits (in a disabled home so that argument won’t wash with me in responses) and we didn’t go out much and if we did it was free or home based. We never went to soft play, Alton towers etc.

May not seem fair, but now as part of a couple who’ve had to stop at 2 kids due to finances and even when both working can’t afford many days out a year and certainly not a holiday. I think people’s expectations (especially in a cost of living issue) are far too high.

If you bothered to read the Ops replies her days out are not very frequent or extravagant either ,she's not asking for the moon on a stick just the odd day out.

I did read her updates.

I too would also love a day out with my children and also had a rough upbringing around disability. But what you want in life and what you can afford often don’t go hand in hand. It’s the harsh reality of this country at the moment.

Frankly, I also didn’t have 7 kids.

I know that unfortunatly. Oh well I’m sure Fatage will sort it all out. Sick and tired of entitlement when I world my arse of and get nothing. I would not want handouts to feed my kids I have pride.

Contraceptive failures Jesus wept 🤦🏻‍♀️ sorry I’m losing sympathy now. We stopped at one as we didn’t want to be struggling financially. If we felt we may have had an “accident” we paid for the MAP just in case.

None of this is relevant to be honest. If you can't afford days out then you can't go on them.

You don’t need to justify yourself to strangers on the net, although saying that the holiday vouchers are only £10 a week if you are getting the child element of uc for all your kids surely the vouchers are a drop in the ocean?
Have you looked up the Haf booking lab they do some good holiday clubs even for young teenagers