Paying for school trips.

Skinnymoo

Hi, I hope this is posted in the right place, son's school have a day trip planned for July 7th, recieved letter last week.Letter states that "The visit has been planned on the understanding that all parents are prepared to voluntarily meet the cost of £* per child. In my eyes it's very expensive . I am on benefits and will struggle to find this money. Do I have to pay if voluntarily asked for? I have always paid for his trips in the past.....

dmg24

Hi Skinnymoo,

Welcome to MSE.

You don't have to pay, but they would be within their rights to not allow your child to go on the trip.

I would give the school a call. They often have a small fund put aside for occasions like this.

Galvatron_2

If you are on something like income support can't you get some trips at a reduced price? I have known people who got 50% off.

Skinnymoo

Galvatron wrote: »

If you are on something like income support can't you get some trips at a reduced price? I have known people who got 50% off.

Thank you for your replies, yes I am on IS, but have never known them to offer a reduction.

Oldernotwiser

If you're on benefits you'll get quite a substantial amount of child tax credit which is intended to cover things like this.

What sort of visit is it and how much are you talking about?

Zara33

Galvatron wrote: »

If you are on something like income support can't you get some trips at a reduced price? I have known people who got 50% off.

That's interesting never heard of this before I wonder if it depends on the local authority.

OrkneyStar

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you're on benefits you'll get quite a substantial amount of child tax credit which is intended to cover things like this.

What sort of visit is it and how much are you talking about?

Child Tax Credit is intended to pay towards child's living costs, including food, clothing, and trips. Even on income support (with your other benefits) you should be putting even £1 aside every week to cover things like this.

Oldernotwiser

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Child Tax Credit is intended to pay towards child's living costs, including food, clothing, and trips. Even on income support (with your other benefits) you should be putting even £1 aside every week to cover things like this.

I know children are expensive but you receive at least £60 per child per week if you're on benefits which should cover most normal school visits.

OrkneyStar

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I know children are expensive but you receive at least £60 per child per week if you're on benefits which should cover most normal school visits.

Exactly, of course OP won't have all this spare, but she can save something (as I said £1 per week would be £50 per year, and that would help a lot!). I am not being horrible but people need to see that it is up to them to budget with the money they have. Some working parents will have no more to spare at the end of the month yet get no freebies for trips etc.

Oldernotwiser

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Exactly, of course OP won't have all this spare, but she can save something (as I said £1 per week would be £50 per year, and that would help a lot!). I am not being horrible but people need to see that it is up to them to budget with the money they have. Some working parents will have no more to spare at the end of the month yet get no freebies for trips etc.

Obviously this money has to cover things like the children's share of utilities and household bills but, basically, it should be spent on the child.

welshmoneylover

Of course it should be spent on the child and with careful budgeting it's possible. Even putting 20p into a jar over 52 weeks a year soon mounts up.