Food vouchers during school holiday.

hoxtonbabe

Hi,

Does anyone know of any advocacy organisations that can help me accessing this as my local authority are not replying to my emails.

long story short I am on benefits, son had been getting free school meals, and was getting the holiday time vouchers.

He was then accepted on a full bursary ( I don’t pay for anything because I am on benefits) at a private school and as here’s no longer at the state school the vouchers stopped also.

My financial situation has not changed ( if anything it’s worse because of the ridiculously high utility bills I have been receiving)

The vouchers would help us out a great deal especially as he’s at that age where he is growing out of everything within a blink of an eye and eating much more as he is now playing far more sports than ever.

I know LA have some flexibility on who they can give these to ( it doesn’t only have to be those on FSM even though technically he would be on FSM if he continued on at a state school) but where it gets tricky is that the school is also in a different borough so not sure which of them I should be asking.

many thanks 

marcia_

 If he is not on free school meals due to the new school and bursary you are not entitled to the vouchers. They are only given to families of children on FSM 

hoxtonbabe

Hi,

that’s just it, on the website of the LA the school is in they say they make can be flexible even if not on FSM, ( also says it on the gov site also) but they aren’t picking up their helpline, my LA pupil benefits department aren’t even replying to the email I sent.

I’m hoping someone comes along in a similar situation and if they managed to get the vouchers 

marcia_

 I tried to get vouchers during the school holidays, we only just miss out on free meals. The council refused stating we had to be eligible for FSM. That might be their policy if your council says its flexible and are not responding contact your local councillor who can easily get a response 

poppy12345

marcia_ said:

 I tried to get vouchers during the school holidays, we only just miss out on free meals. The council refused stating we had to be eligible for FSM.

 Just missing out means you have no entitlement to FSM so you won't be entitled to the vouchers. This is different to the OP circumstances. I don't have an answer for the OP but hopefully someone else will.

Brie

you might try talking to your local food bank.  You might not actually need to take any of their food they might have available (they are used to dealing with school holidays and the issues that causes) but they may know someone on the council who would actually be able to help you.  The women that run our local foodbank seem to have most council departments on speed dial.