Childcare vouchers - for things other than childcare

[WotsitWiggle]

So thanks to Covid, we have a surplus of vouchers that were planned to be used for Easter, May half term and summer holidays - DD is 12 so this was the last year that we'd need holiday childcare and we'd been carefully reducing / stopping payments in so we wouldn't have too much.

Only the holiday clubs didn't run, and the summer one did but only for kids under 11!

Has anyone used childcare vouchers for things other than childcare that would give me ideas? It's a few hundred pounds so I'd like to use it somehow.

Our swimming school takes them. And primary school takes them for after school club and breakfast club.

Local private school accept them for evening prep sessions.

I used them for after-school club, and in the holidays for PGL. What I had left over I ended up donating to the after-school club, for which they were extremely grateful.

I believe some drama / singing/ dancing classes take them.

Ooh @Sunseed, PGL is a good call thank you

In very rare cases, with employer permission, and after complicated red tape I think you can get the vouchers turned back into money.

We have about £800 worth! It should have all been used but I think we'll need to see if we can get a refund.

This may not be appropriate for your circumstances but I think they can sometimes be used towards boarding fees.

@SciFiScream we've already approached both employers and been told no, unfortunately

You can use them for residential holidays, like Kingswood Camps.

camps.kingswood.co.uk/

Obvs they arent operating at the moment, but its a good holiday for teenagers, and even if they dont need "childcare" as such, it breaks up the long summer hols and gives them something to look forward to.

I've reduced mine to £1 a month as don't want to cancel them altogether because wouldn't be able to sign up again but I have nearly £2000 in my childcare vouchers account now and DD is 6 so have to use them over the next 6 years.