Jasmine Birtles
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Grants for the summer holidays 2023
Reading Time: 3 minutesGrants for the summer holidays. The summer holidays are a fantastic time for many kids but can be so daunting for so many parents. With food poverty rife and the cost of living crisis in full swing, people need help. It is good to remind readers that there are many organisations who deliver food and other services to help you if you’re an individual in need of food over the summer holidays. You can get in touch with any of the following organisations who may be able to offer you support:
TURN2US
If your children are school age and receive free school meals during term times, you may be worried about food and other costs while they are on holiday. Find out what help might be available, depending on where you live in the UK here.
You may also be able to get extra credit during the summer holidays, using this govt link: tax-free childcare or the childcare costs element of Universal Credit.
FREE HOLIDAYS AND TRIPS
Families struggling financially, or facing illness, isolation or bereavement, will have an opportunity for a weekend break thanks to a new government fund.
More than 800 holidays and trips for families over the next few months will be funded by the £600,000 ‘England for Everyone’ fund. The fund will support parents, carers, and young people experiencing difficult times to get away, relax and enjoy themselves on a weekend break in England.
Learn more here.
FREE FOOD GIVEAWAYS FROM OLIO
As ever, Olio is worth perusing because there are thousands of items being given away daily. You’re bound to find something you need to ease the summer hols. Get food and drink to everything in between. All perfectly good, unwanted food being given away to reduce food waste. Everything shared on OLIO is for free. They have also developed safe sharing ‘no-contact pickups’ in response to COVID-19. Visit their website for more information and to download the app.
HOLIDAY ACTIVITY CLUBS
Hundreds of thousands of children across England will continue to access free, nutritious food and engaging activities over the school holidays, as the government has allocated £200 million to fund the holiday activities and food programme throughout 2023.
These free holiday clubs run across England, supporting parents with childcare costs over the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays by providing free, nutritious meals and enriching activities, such as football, play sessions and cooking classes. New figures out today show that around 600,000 children benefited from the scheme over summer 2022 across over 8,000 clubs, events or organised activities in England. More info HERE.
CHILD FOOD POVERTY
Debt Movement are offering free school meals for kids during the summer hols. This was set up during the pandemic and the possibility of writing off your debt, if you’re struggling or on a low income due to events beyond your control, is still on offer HERE if you apply.
TRUSSELL TRUST
The Trussell Trust operate the largest network of foodbanks across the UK. You can search for your nearest food bank via their interactive map.
INDEPENDENT FOOD AID NETWORK
IFAN are the UK network for independent food aid providers. They support and connect a range of independent frontline food aid organisations while advocating on their behalf at a national level.
They have mapped 834 independent foodbanks. Please visit their website for more information here.
FEEDING BRITAIN
Feeding Britain are running a network of emergency food programmes across the UK. This protects children and their families from hunger. Hot meals and food packages are being made available through a combination of home deliveries and collection points. This ensures families on low incomes can put breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the table each day. You can find out more via their website here.
Very useful information.