Re: free school meal vouchers

[Hadenoughofitall441]

My mum works in a local supermarket, she told me today that at least 6 of the kids parents from dd 7 and DS 12 school came in to use them but spent them on alcohol. Now let me know if I’m being unreasonable but I find this totally out of order. She said it’s been happening last week aswell.
She said the cards have the kids names on so she knew what they were. She too is disgusted by this but obviously can’t say anything because it’s at work. One of the other customers said he thought it was wrong too.

That just did not happen. Next.

I work at a school with a very high percentage of FSM. We had to sort it out ourselves, and quickly, they are not issued by the government. The school will be reimbursed for the cost. They are just regular supermarket gift vouchers. I would be really sad to hear they are being spent on alcohol, but sadly, I wouldn’t actually be very surprised at all. If it’s amongst a weekly shop, then of course it would be fine, but I suspect that some will be spending the money on things not for their kids. Not all parents put their kids first unfortunately.

if you need vouchers for food then you shouldn’t be buying alcohol

My mum knows the parents because she looks after them whilst I have been at work the last 6 years. My mums a lot of things but she’s not a liar, she’s more blunt than I’d like her to be. She didn’t tell me which parents they were just parents of kids from dcs school. Maybe they have brought food elsewhere but I still don’t think it’s right to spend them on alcohol and fags. That’s not what they are intended for, because if the kids were at school you wouldn’t be getting the extra money.

your mother shouldn't be talking about people's personal circumstances to you

This. Nasty gossip. You have absolutely no idea about these people’s circumstances. And let’s be very clear, if I ever found out someone was gossiping about me in that way, I would be taking it up with management and higher.

I’ve already said she never told me the names of who it was.

I don’t like the idea of vouchers tbh. In my area the money for the fsm is paid directly to the parents’ bank account . It’s bad enough that children may already feel the stigma of fsm without the parents feeling embarrassed when they go shopping . Not every parent who gets vouchers will waste them . Forget about those who will spend them on frivolous items . It’s not your business . Annoying as it may be .

Are they spending the full value of the voucher on alcohol?

if you need vouchers for food then you shouldn’t be buying alcohol

Yawn.

Maybe they have brought food elsewhere but I still don’t think it’s right to spend them on alcohol and fags. That’s not what they are intended for, because if the kids were at school you wouldn’t be getting the extra money.

If they’d already bought food elsewhere with their own money then the vouchers are just replacing their money. So essentially the vouchers are their own money. To spend as they wish.

The new vouchers from the government scheme can’t be spent on age restricted items. I’m really pleased they’ve come in as we have been having to open school up to give out packed lunches to families when we didn’t have any key workers in so it meant everyone had a greater contact with others.

The parents I know who are struggling are desperate for food for their families and to have asked us as a school for additional help would be their last resort. I would like to think their wouldn’t waste any vouchers on alcohol over food but wouldn’t begrudge them a drink, I think we all need it at the moment!

I have the vouchers which the school bought, kindly, but because we have had shopping delivered due to isolation I couldn't use them yet, I'm saving them to use another time when we aren't isolating - we have just finished two weeks and now another one of us has symptoms so it's another two weeks.

today I used them for a variety of necessities plus cat food and a bottle of wine.

the cat needs to eat, but WINE? This is a goady post, that's not allowed surely?

For example.

Jane has a monthly budget of £10 to treat herself. She spends her treat budget on wine. Her children get FSM in school.

Except this month the schools closed and so Jane has to purchase extra food for lunches at home that her children would normally get at school. She had to use her treat budget of £10.

Then the government decide to pay for the lunch food and issue vouchers to those in receipt of FSM.

So now Jane, having already purchased the food for lunches, can pay back into her treat budget with the voucher. She can buy her wine. Jane is happy, her children are fed, and nobody is out any money.

1. The vouchers from our school can only be spent on food or cleaning products.
2. There may have been alcohol in their shop but the vouchers wouldn’t have covered this only the food.
3. Your mum shouldn’t be discussing what people are buying or if people are in receipt of FSM it’s none of her, or your, business.

How dare the peasants be entitled to any enjoyment in life. I suppose you think the vouchers should be spent on gruel?

if the vouchers are not used for basic but wasted on things like alcohol, the people using them should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Clearly these vouchers are not needed and should go to someone who is really struggling.

If you want enjoyment in life, do what the rest of the world does, pay for it.

You’ve all weighed in with your opinions but not one person including the OP has responded to me who openly admitted buying a bottle of wine with my vouchers!

Everyone is so determined to get their two pence worth on they aren’t actually reading and looking at the situation from other angles.

It appears some people can’t do simple math. mama

@AlbusSeverusPotter13 (love the name btw) didn’t see your update. I can’t use mine for alcohol, I’m in a position where I couldn’t anyway at the moment. Am I going to judge anyone else for doing it. Nope. We are all doing our best.
The thing that has kissed me off is the mum who works there reporting back to the OP who is on FSM. Nosiness and judginess at its best

*pissed me off 🙄 Not kissed!

I could claim them for DS1, as he gets pupil premium for being vulnerable and we were offered supermarket vouchers. They don't have any special not to be spent on cheap gin conditions attached to them.

You’ve all weighed in with your opinions but not one person including the OP has responded to me who openly admitted buying a bottle of wine with my vouchers!

You didn’t ask a question!

Hmm, Admittedly when i heard they were going to give vouchers out i did think there would be a small percentage of parents, who would spend it on things like that. Which is worry.

Then I pulled my head out of my arse and realised actually, if they went in to Tesco on a Monday and did a full shop and the vouchers arrived on a Tuesday, what is the difference really. I prob wouldn't do it because I would be worried people thought that of me but in reality I highly doubt your DM knows all these children whose parents are pissing up the voucher money up the wall, with no food at home.