Will I be reported to SS for using a foodbank?

[Fivetosurvive]

I have just lost my job during the worst year I think I’ve ever had, DS starts school in September and I’m worried about them prejudging us before even starting. Will they know?

Of course not. SS is far too busy to worry about a perfectly stable family that is having to use a food bank during the summer.

In some less affluent regions, a third of families are having to call on similar help.

Try not to worry. I hope it all gets sorted soon. Good luck.

Nobody will judge you for taking measures to ensure you and your child are fed.

make sure you apply for free school meals when he starts school (if your in England) I know they have universal free meals in the infants but you should get a supermarket voucher for school holidays

Possibly. I think reported is the wrong word, it might be noted that you need extra support.

Wont you be getting free school meals/ pupil premium in September if you are not working? That also flags up that the child may need extra support. I don’t think it’s a bad thing or a reflection on you.

I work for my LA and we have funds to help people who are struggling. Often used for energy bills as the level of support needed can be measured. It’s not terribly well advertised but have a look on their website and see if you can find a welfare fund or fiscal fund application. Also see if you can apply for a school uniform grant. This is £120 in my LA; every little helps.

Thanks
I’m hoping to be working again by then. But if not I have 3 months income protection for gas and electricity. It’s more the actual food and bills over the holidays I’m worried about.

You won’t be reported as the Foodbank will have no pathway of doing this unless they saw such huge safeguarding concerns that they reported in the same way a random person would. The Foodbank info goes not very far at all, and SS would be even more overwhelmed than they already are if they checked out every person with kids who used a Foodbank. Please please try not to worry and use the Foodbank as much as you need and look at what other help you may be entitled to and Free School Meals etc

there is support for families that are struggling and you can be referred to an organisation/charity that can help. Referrers can be social workers, health visitors, GPs, teachers, citizens advice, job centre, housing officers, midwives etc. You don’t have to be absolutely destitute to ask for help so please do ask for whatever it is that you might need for you and your child - help with uniform, clothes, shoes, toys, books, bedding, household items etc. there will be support available if you feel able to ask.

Excuse you?!?!?!?! No it bloody won’t be communicated back to ANY services that because a family receives pupil premium that they need 'extra support!!!!' 36% of families receive pupil premium in some areas, how DARE you?!?!

How bloody cruel and misguided you are

Not unless you walloped your child n front of them whilst high on crack when you went to pick up your food parcel.

Social services deal with abusive and negelctful parents not people in financial hardship taking the appropriate action to ensure their child is fed.

Please correct @Badbudgeter above! She is trying to frighten OP into believing that claiming pupil premium, will "FLAG UP" to social services that the family need "extra support!" 🙄 Disgraceful, cruel behaviour

Some places flag it up if you've been there regularly because it means your children need extra support due to finances but some food banks don't require vouchers and you can turn up again and again.
They do collect some data from you like name and address some ask if you're on any benefits. They might suggest a referral to a benefits/housing and debt advice.

You don't get reported to social services for getting free school meals!

Its worth applying for the fsm as they last 6 years after you apply, so even if you get another job you won't have to pay for any meals at primary and get subsidised trips.

Unbelievable isn't it? The fact that anyone can be that cruel to a Mum who is clearly already struggling, just blows my mind. Properly, staggeringly mean.

Not an answer to your question but the Lidl near me has boxes full of still fresh fruit and veg either free or at minimal cost.
https://corporate.lidl.co.uk/sustainability/food-waste/too-good-to-waste

@Badbudgeter Full of shit you are

You absolutely will not be reported. I work in one of the countries most deprived towns, one school locally has a 75% rate of free school meals. I help families get food parcels and we don't flag anything. Do what you need to do. Being skint doesn't make you a bad parent

I would consider making an arrangement with your gas and electricity supplier explaining you’ve lost your job. They have schemes to support people. You should prioritise rent/mortgage, council tax and food and transport etc. Maybe speak to step change or another debt charity for advice. They’ll help you budget and access support.

My children’s school has a food and clothing/uniform bank. They actually call it a community fridge to reduce the stigma. No one bats an eyelid at those accessing them. The school I work in, regularly supports families to access a food bank and social care are not involved with this.

Social care only become involved when a family fail to meet their children’s needs in one way or another - if your children had no food and you did nothing about it then that might be a cause for concern but accessing free food isn’t an issue.

The poster saying it will be ‘flagged’ has hopefully just worded their post very badly. The only extra ‘support’ is that school’s receive pupil premium money and they must demonstrate how this has been used. This could, for example, be used to fund the school residential for pupils in receipt of pupil premium. Free school meals, due to family income, are never a red flag for social services.

@Badbudgeter - I suspect the PP works for a District Council and is referring to the barely "advertised" discretionery hardship funds that they are responsible for granting after jumping through many hoops, although the funds are from Central Govt.

District Councils are not responsible for SS; and many (not all) District Councils are currently unable to even deal with CTS and the monthly variations of UC in an efficient manner.

Yeah it is very worrying that the OP has taken that as fact when it's very much not.

I'm my experience you can hammer down the doors of "social services" asking for help and they might make a cursory phone call to you a year later to ask what you wanted after your child has been getting free school meals for four years.

Flagging that you need extra support from SS is absolutely not a thing.

My reading of @Badbudgeter's post was that they were trying to point out resources that OP might be able to access to get her through this rough patch, not that they wete in any way trying to frighten or upset OP.

I think there's some confusion about the difference between being reported to Social Services for not coping as a parent, and mechanisms in place to flag up that kids or parents might need extra support.

Pupil premium, for example, is supposed to work so that schools with kids on pp get more money. In a less shit world, using a foodbank should be a signal that someone needs help.

@RattleRattle I agree with that. I get a lot of "but don't you get respite/free school meals/free car tax/housing benefit" etc etc. Then " but are you sure" with an accompanying head tilt. People don't seem to realise that if you get working tax credit you don't get free school meals and if you are on Universal credit then if you earn more than I think 8k per household you earn too much to get free school meals.