Bloody (not) Free school meals

[Hazelnutlatteplease]

Not redeemable against online shopping!!! and only have a one month expiration. Absolutely useless.

We have almost completely avoided the supermarket in the last year on account of CEV DS. I have a few vouchers from previous lockdown which will make finances easier when we can get back to the supermarket, but these ones bah!

I got so excited when it arrived!! AIBU to try selling them on? Would anyone buy if I explained

I cannot understand why the £15 a week wasn't just transferred into the bank accounts of the parents

😂

you mean you understand, you are just not happy with it!

Iamtheoneandonly your situation sounds tough. It's understandable you haven't worked out how to best organise things having just left a refuge.

I don't want to derail Op's thread too much but I assume you're in receipt of Universal Credit? I think it would be worth paying for a taxi (when you get a payment) to your nearest supermarket if you have fsm vouchers saved up and spending those on a fairly big shop for your family. If all three children qualify you must have a fair amount to use.

Also check the shops you can use them at. There have been more outlets added to the list since they first started; including McColls, RS McColls, Martins, M and S and Waitrose. I know Waitrose is expensive but there seem to be more online slots available, and probably better than using local independent shops.

As already suggested other people can use your vouchers for you and please don't be too proud to ask for help. There are charities, food banks and volunteer groups who can assist you. Pick up the phone and ask.

You need to eat well and look after yourself, your children are depending on you. You'll get back on your feet and stronger everyday after leaving an abusive relationship. Hang in there x

@SmileyClare

FSM is not paid directly into parents accounts because unfortunately some children of parents with unstable chaotic lives would not benefit. A small minority of parents in poverty do not have bank accounts

In some area it most definitely IS paid directly into parents account.

you mean you understand, you are just not happy with it
Of course I understand the supposed risk of paying money into bank accounts.

Personally it doesn't affect me as my son is nearly 21 and is at uni but it doesn't mean that I can't see the utterly disgusting way that people view families who claim UC / legacy benefits.

Money for Free School Meals is paid in cash to parents accounts Mrs.D? I didn't know some areas do this.

Please do derail the thread if it can be of use to iamtheoneandonlyy
@MiiToo Thank you for the tip re Asda. My mum has Asda Deliveries so shes going to sort it out with me. Very much appreciated
@FlatteredRhubardFool @WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo and others your right I had misunderstood. The last edenred vouchers had a long expiry. My morrisons one have a year, so it’s better than the expiration on the edenred. Still I'd rather get something I can use now.
Thank you @mummymummymummummum and others that have tried to help. Thanks to this thread I do have a solution. SmaugMum yeah I did similar last time we saved on everything from petrol to clothing, so that went on food.
Surely you can work out a way to use them if you actually need them.
Well I’m trying but I’d rather go without than put DS at unnecessary risk
it is only the CEV individual who has to shield
@Calmandmeasured1 Government guidelines assume the vulnerable individual is able to shield independently from the rest of the house. DS needs help with everything from putting a mask on, to personal care. Life doesn’t always fit the ideal.
Put some effort in & either shop online elsewhere
I could but at the moment I have committed to a morrisons delivery saver. At the height of lockdown last year they were the only supermarket I was able to regularly get delivery slots with. So either I find a better way of doing it or I waste money and risk not getting food delivery slots.
What would happen if you couldn’t get a delivery slot
I stock enough food in the house atm that I can go (at least) a fortnight without a delivery if needed. I’m very careful.
Online shopping is pretty new, wasn't around when my kids were small
My kids are teens, I was online shopping just before they were born. It’s been around a long time
If you have a few left from the previous lockdown then you obviously aren't using them to replace free school lunches for your child.
FSM are not your ‘right’ but a charitable endeavour to ensure children don’t starve
Clearly you dont understand how support for people with disabilities and their (family) carers works.
If you are not even using them (still have some left from previous lockdown) you don't need them, do you?
Not going to be apologising for being able to budget sensibly and make a small budget work. I appreciate how lucky I am to be able to do this.
Everyone you know isn't shielding surely?
Funny that. Most of my friends come from the SN community. Others are involved in healthcare. My family is small, and mostly far older than me. Everyone has there own challenges.
Bloody hell, some people are never happy 🙄.
Wow imagine being this ungrateful
I shall remember to be grateful for the challenge of keeping an CEV teen alive through a pandemic!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Glad you found a solution Op. Mumsnet can be really useful and helpful (sometimes)!

I agree, the sneering attitude towards families needing to claim benefits or financial support is awful. It's easy to write off families facing financial struggles and claim they're scrounging from tax payers.

A brief glimpse into the lives of posters on here like Imtheoneandonly or yourself demonstrates the reality of people's situations.

My husband was recently made redundant and my self employed business has folded due to the pandemic. I've taken a much lower paid shop job in desperation for now and we qualify for fsm vouchers. We're finding things a struggle as are a lot of families during this pandemic.

Most people receiving any state help work really bloody hard to provide for their families. It's not a lazy lifestyle choice. That's such a narrow minded view.

@SmileyClare they are. Unfortunately as this is something i don’t agree with. As mentioned in the thread many kids don’t get the benefit of it😡

God there are some fucking horrible mean replies on here. I really hope that those who think they're superior to the OP by not needing additional help understand that the only difference between them and those needing financial help is luck. Nothing more. Some people need to get over themselves. OP, I hope you are able to find a solution.

I didn't know that. I assume you work in social services and see a minority of neglected children living in unstable homes. It's depressing but the fsm scheme can only go so far in reaching those in need. There would always be a way to cash in vouchers if parents were hell bent on depriving their dc to buy a bottle of vodka or whatever.

Let's not tar the majority of parents with that brush who are grateful of assistance and would always rather feed their children before themselves.

Sorry that comment was to MrsD

I agree, Rabbitty there's often a similar judgmental attitude towards anyone in social housing on here.

I work in education. Hence the knowledge of the cash paid.

Those using the money for themselves are in the minority-i hope. Food vouchers would Certainly be better all round.

I cannot understand why the £15 a week wasn't just transferred into the bank accounts of the parents rather than vouchers or food parcels.

You’re extremely naive if you think all parents would spend it on food. Some parents have multiple children so that could be £45 or £60 a week. They wouldn’t all spend it on food.

The problem is with paying money into an account, its gonna stop one day. And they’ll notice that difference.

@FunkyMunkey

If you are not even using them (still have some left from previous lockdown) you don't need them, do you?

🙄

@contrmary

Yeh, FSM parents are immune to covid.

@iamtheoneandonlyyy

I have leftover vouchers that I want to use Single parent of 3 No access to supermarkets No childcare whatsoever Nobody to do it for me Delivery slots permanently full I could do an order for a few weeks away but the very little cash I have needs to be used for food now and can't be paid in advance. I'm not ungrateful and I really could do with using them, I'm having days where I'm telling them mummy's not hungry at the moment But yes, all of the posters on here saying I should be grateful are so wise and generous.

Very confused about this. If you can't get to shops and you can't get a delivery, then how to you get any food at all? Using FSM vouchers or not.

If you do an online order now for a few weeks, then the money will only come out of your account when you get the shop (i.e. you can book the slot now and amend and pay for it 24 hours before delivery).

Your local council should be able to signpost you to volunteers who can shop for you if you have someone shielding.

@StarCat2020

you mean you understand, you are just not happy with it Of course I understand the supposed risk of paying money into bank accounts.

Personally it doesn't affect me as my son is nearly 21 and is at uni but it doesn't mean that I can't see the utterly disgusting way that people view families who claim UC / legacy benefits.

You were being disingenuous then and you still are now.

but it doesn't mean that I can't see the utterly disgusting way that people view families who claim UC / legacy benefits.

That's absolute rubbish and you know it.

It's not about how parents on benefits are viewed at all, it's about seeing the small number of vulnerable children from troubled homes are definitely receiving the food meant for them.

It's already been explained how/why the food often doesn't get to that small number of children.

Sorry to the posters asking questions I've already answered, please feel free to scroll back up.
Thanks for helpful replies it's very kind, I honestly don't want to take focus from the OP, I just wanted to show that there are many reasons people might be struggling to use the vouchers and that it's not a case of being ungrateful.
Taking my three children 6,4 and 1 anywhere is a logistical nightmare but everyone is having a hard time one way or another.
It would just be nice if people (some people) were a little less judgemental.
But overall I do appreciate being offered the help from the school/ government

@WorraLiberty

Sorry , I usually don't disagree with MN legend 🙊 but I don't think that's the case. Read though any FSM thread and you will see.

Fucking hell. If Boris doesn't personally deliver a Michelin star quality banquet then parents just can't be happy with anything to do with free school meals, honestly you're ridiculous. Watch some footage of refugee camps or starving children anywhere in the world or look into the benefit systems in other countries, including Europe and educate yourself on how lucky you are

And for the record, my daughter is eligible for free school meals

There's an army of volunteers and local groups who can help you get in touch with local hub and local facebook groups .

Unfortunately well doing thing like FSM they have to try and pre empty problems.
Giving cash some kids wouldn't see any off it and if you had an overdraft it would disappear .
Hampers would be great but they need quality not the shit version that was sent.
Voucher have there draw back but best option people do sell them or by joint of meat and sell them .