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.

Neither does the Op she has 5 .

5 kids - wow. Must've been very well off at one point.

Also - other people's money is not there to be spent on your family outings.

I think it is asking for the moon on a stick for a family of 7 who are wholly supported by the state to have subsidised days out. There are lots of free things to do in Bristol. A quick google helps

https://visitbristol.co.uk/things-to-do/free/

My mistake then. 5 is still a lot. Most have 1 or 2 at a push. 2 of which were failures which does also irritate others who take contraception and their cycles very seriously due to being in financial hardship.

Unfortunately a lot of the feelings on here are symptomatic of the period of economic downfall we’re living in.

Working parents can barely afford one outing a week and whilst most of us would never see a child go hungry, cold or filthy - days out are different when most of us are cutting our cloth (rather ferociously in a lot of cases) is tone deaf. That’s why OP is seeing push back.

There are a lot of SEN friendly activities in areas that are subsidised. There are also a lot of free things that I myself will be going to as I can’t afford soft play, days out etc. That’s life and it’s better to have a fed child than a day out.

Unfortunately you can’t have everything you want in life especially if it’s state welfare funded.

This thread as taken an interesting turn

I agree with you. there's lots of people struggling at the moment, many have two parents working. I think it's great we have a benefits system to help those who need it, but benefits should really be for the basics. Extra childcare food vouchers paying for days out shouldn't be a thing, especially when there's working families who can;t afford days out. we really need an overhaul of the benefits system, I hope whichever government gets in next can sort it out.

@elliejjtiny putting together the pieces of what you say, are you happy to say whether you're in Somerset or North Somerset?

As for beaches head to the Jurassic Coast for paddling, sand castles and fossil hunting (just check tide times for the sandy bits at places like Charmouth and Lyme!)

Look up not down for the source of the problem.

The country can afford it. They choose not to.

Top 50 wealthiest families have more than the bottom 34 million people. Tax them more and put the money back into helping the everyday person.

Other people's money should only pay for the absolute bare minimum. I don't go to work to pay for your days out or anything else above and beyond. I'd scrap universal 'free' breakfasts and dinners too. They should only go to those whose parents are really struggling. I'm sure people forget where benefit money comes from!

It is no different to any other thread covering a similar topic. Thankfully the OP has had some good advice from posters wanting to help, in good faith.

I’m not looking down. I’m sick of entitlement even if those who are entitled don’t seem to realise it.

Billionaires aside (who are leaving the UK) we cannot afford endless funding of people who cannot or won’t work for whatever reason. We are an empathetic nation but when workers can’t afford what those on state welfare are getting, this sews the seeds of discontent. We unfortunately have no more left to give as middle earners being taxed to death.

Billionaires avoiding tax are to me just as bad as those who expect the state to fund every aspect of their lives. Both sides are not pulling their societal weight. If welfare ends up better than working, what’s the point?

But the kids are fed, Op has said she can afford to feed the kids and that’s what the vouchers were for. They are to buy groceries so the children don’t go without food. They are not so people can afford days out. The children are fed which is essential, money on days out isn’t so if someone can’t save up then they should look for free activities

A trip to the zoo sounds lovely. There shouldn’t be an expectation that we have to do something expensive every week of the holidays. Some children won’t get a trip to the zoo or anywhere like that. Plenty will have a trip to the local park or a walk somewhere

Hi OP,

Please ignore some of the posts on here, money is tight for most people and families at the moment so although some of the posts aren't sympathetic i'd imagine most ofthe posters don't understand the pressure you're underas a parent to multiple kids with send.

Have you looked at your local offer, it should be on your councils website. The LA have a duty to provide short breaks for families with children with send. It could be in the form of a holiday club for them or babysitting or various other things but you may find something there.

Merlin who own Alton Towers, Chessington, sealife, Legoland etc havw a charity called Merlins magic wand which is worth a look as you may get some free tickets to somewhere. If they aren't taking new applications just keep an eye on it for it opening up again.

Familyfund offer grants for families with disabled children. You could request a grant towards holiday and days out.

Some really useful tips here.

I would counter your point about lack of sympathy though. I think it’s worth OP knowing that a lot of parents who she may see as better off than her are also curbing extra non essential things like days out so they can feed and house their children. Maybe it’d make it easier for her to understand that her children aren’t the only ones missing out due to financial pressure.

By my back of fag packet calculations, and assuming the two eldest kids have no SEN, the OP’s family has the same income as someone earning around £65,000. OK that’s not a massive amount for a family of 7 but it’s pretty good for unearned income. How many people have the luxury of not working when their kids are in secondary school? Very few.

I’m not ignoring the fact that it’s a hard life when you have children with SEN. But it is a choice to have 5 kids.

I take your point and can see this.

So the vouchers will stop during holidays as any child if parents on uc will get free school meals ? Is that right ?

They haven't actually said why but I imagine that is the reason.

This, people who work and can’t afford these luxuries or have to save and cut corners are blithely told on mumsnet, “pick up more hours, get a second/third job, you choose to live where you do, have children, budget better” and so on af nauseum!

Guessing they can’t afford to give every child vouchers

equally that will mean those kids whose parents struggle to feed their child term time hence fsm means the 14w or so of holidays they will struggle for 3.5mths to feed their child

Our local libraries run some good tween and teen activities that are low cost or completely free like acrylic jewellery making, 3D printing to design and make things like keyrings, coding clubs, 3D pens, sewing and crafts.

It sounds like your children are disabled?
The Max card worth looking into although there isn't lots local to us that's free, many attractions only offer 10-50% off which may still be out of your reach.

Your local council might do a 'short breaks grant' as part of their local offer for disabled families or children with SEND. The name is deceiving and it depends on how your council administers it but where I am if you qualify for the scheme the guidance specifically allows funding to be used for family days out such as a theme park or bowling if you choose, or regular activities like online hobbies, swimming, football.

And your advice is?

Though it will also potentially mean less parents struggling during term time?