Latest news with #HolidayActivitiesandFood
BBC News
an hour ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Minister visits Middlesbrough to discuss tackling child poverty
A government minister has said tackling child poverty is a "huge challenge" while visiting one of the country's most deprived Minister Catherine McKinnell visited a gymnastics academy in Middlesbrough, which offers free places to children from low-income families through the government's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) has some of the poorest areas in the country, including its Newport ward where 85% of children live in poverty, according to data published by the Department of Work and said the government was "absolutely determined" to ensure where youngsters came from did not determine what they could achieve in life. "We are trying to break down the barriers for opportunity that some of these children might face otherwise," she said."But I recognise there is a huge challenge."It is worrying that child poverty has been going up and up, which is totally unacceptable and needs to be turned around." The Labour MP for Newcastle North made her comments at the Teesside Academy of Gymnastics, on Newport South Business Park, during a class for about 40 who took part were able to access healthy food and snacks, through the HAF version of the scheme, called Bring it on Boro, has offered 27,000 places via 50 different providers during July and August. It is available for those who receive free school meals, aged between five and 16. McKinnell said the children told her how the HAF programme taught them new skills and helped them to make friends. "Not only does it give parents a chance to work, it really boosts the children's outcomes as well," she said. Middlesbrough Council recently extended the scheme into half-term holidays using its own town's mayor, Chris Cooke, previously described the child poverty statistics in central Middlesbrough as "dire", according to the Local Democracy Reporting said Bring it on Boro's sessions kept children active and the academy had produced "brilliant gymnasts"."It's an inspiring place and HAF opens the doors to kids who wouldn't normally come here - they'll definitely want to come back," he said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
'I quit work- because I can't find childcare for my disabled daughter'
Ana Chivu worked for a medical company but says she made the difficult decision to leave her job because she couldn't find a holiday club for her daughter Giulia during the summer holidays A mother forced to quit work because she cannot find any holiday clubs for her SEND daughter says the scarcity of places is worsened by her being between school and nursery. After weeks of research, a football group for one hour on a Monday was all Ana Chivu could find for her four-year-old daughter Giulia. The child with special educational needs and disabilities is non-verbal autistic, still in nappies and has no danger awareness. Ana, 30, told the Mirror: 'I love my job and it was family-friendly hours – I worked for a medical company Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm. 'I want to be working but resigned last month because I had to make the right decision for my daughter. 'I found some holiday clubs that sounded good but as soon as I mentioned she was in nappies and needed help with feeding they said they couldn't accommodate her.' Parents pay an average of £1,076 per child for summer holiday clubs, children's charity Coram revealed. And just 9% of councils in England have enough places for SEND kids. Being in the gap between nursery and school intensifies the difficulty in finding holiday clubs, as kids are often unable to access either sector. Ana said if the government wants to cut personal independence payments and get more people into work, it needs to improve special educational needs support Ana, who lives in Barnsley, South Yorks, with husband Radoslav, 35, a hygiene supervisor, added: 'I've read about respite breaks but because she is not in statutory school age, these do not apply to Giulia either.' Anna Bird, chief of disability charity Contact, added: 'Some families with disabled children dread the long summer break because they don't have access to childcare.' Labour's Peter Swallow, who was at a Parliamentary drop-in last week where more than 60 MPs met families of SEND children, said: 'I want to see better support for vulnerable children and their parents.' The Department of Education said: 'We recognise school holidays can be a pressurised time for parents, particularly for those with children who have SEND, which is why we are continuing to fund free holiday clubs through the Holiday Activities and Food programme. 'Councils must ensure sufficient, high-quality provision is available for children with SEND who are eligible in their areas.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
How you can claim up to £20K a year to help with kids during summer holidays
Do you know the Government will pay £2 for every £8 you spend on childcare HOLIDAY HELP How you can claim up to £20K a year to help with kids during summer holidays HAVING kids is expensive – and the financial pain only gets harder in the summer holidays. Summer clubs cost an average £1,075 for the six-week break, according to Coram's Holiday Childcare Report, so it's vital you claim all available support. Anna Stevenson, benefits specialist at Turn2Us, says: 'There are a lot of schemes to navigate and often people don't know where to start, but there is help there when you know where to look.' Mel Hunter considers what help you can apply for — and it's worth up to £20,247 a year. FREE CHILDCARE PLACES - up to £7,500 a year ALL families in England are entitled to 15 hours' free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds. Working families can also access some free childcare hours from when their children are nine months old. From September, eligible parents will be able to get 30 hours' free childcare a week from nine months until school age — but you need to apply by August 31. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have alternative schemes, so it's worth checking what applies for you. HOLIDAY ACTIVITY FUND - £720 THE Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme gives children from lower income families access to holiday activities, including a free meal. It is mainly for primary school children who receive free school meals. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence However, some councils keep places for other children considered in need. Anna says: 'Schemes like this, which are administered by the local authority, can go under the radar.' TAX-FREE CHILDCARE - up to £4,000 a year THE Government will pay £2 for every £8 you spend on childcare, capped at £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a child with a disability). But around 825,000 of the 1.3million families who are eligible do not claim it. Anna says: 'People don't always realise that they can get help covering the cost of childcare once their kids are out of nursery, when they may be using after-school or holiday clubs.' CHILD BENEFIT - £1,355 a year THIS is paid to anyone with a child under 16, or under 20 if they are still in education. It is worth £1,354.60 per year for a family with one child and £2,251.60 per year for a family with two. It seems a no-brainer, but around £1.6billion in child benefit goes unclaimed each year. With child benefit, there is no cap so you can claim for as many children as you have. The level at which you are entitled to the full amount changed last year. Now you can get it if no one in your household earns more than £60,000, up from £50,000. If you earn between £60,000 and £80,000, you are entitled to some of it. If you earn more than £80,000, you are not entitled to any. It is still worth filling in the claim form, even if you do not want to get payments, to get National Insurance credits which count towards the state pension. UNIVERSAL CREDIT - £5,772 a year UNIVERSAL credit is the main benefit that can be claimed by families on a lower income, but the 1.4million households that don't claim could be missing out on an average of £5,772. You cannot get universal credit if you or a partner you live with have more than £16,000 in savings. But you may still be able to get it if you work. Mandy Jackson, a rights adviser with the charity Working Families, says: 'Anyone with a child should check if they are eligible.' SURE START MATERNITY GRANT - £500 THIS is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the costs of having a newborn in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can apply if you have no other children under 16 and you or your partner get certain benefits. If you live in Scotland, you can apply for a Best Start grant, worth up to £767.50. Designed to support families with young kids, it comes in three payments. FREE BREAKFAST CLUBS - up to £450 a year FREE breakfast clubs are being rolled out in primary schools across England. These give kids an extra 30-minute session before school where they get a free breakfast. If you are eligible for these you may be able to get help from your local authority during the summer holidays. Check to find out. My nursery costs are cut by £1,440 3 Sam Kennedy Christian is a coach who helps parents juggle work and childcare Credit: Suppleid MUM-of-two Sam Kennedy Christian is a coach who helps parents juggle work and childcare. Sam, 39, uses the tax-free childcare scheme and finds it very helpful. She explains: 'I started using it when [my daughter] Rose, who's now seven, started at nursery – and over the years it has saved us a fortune.' Currently, it cuts nursery fees for her son James, two, to £480 a month instead of £600 – saving £1,440 a year. The family has been getting 15 hours' free childcare for James each week, but that will rise to 30 hours in September. That will cut their bill by a further £240 a month. Sam, from Herne Bay, Kent, says: 'It's a lot to get your head around, but it's so worth it.' It can also be a godsend for clubs in the school holidays for Rose, Sam adds. With the average cost around £30 a day where Sam lives, she ends up paying £24 herself, with the rest covered by the govern-ment payment. Sam says: 'Saving £6 a day is very helpful. Over the summer, it will save us £60.' PENSIONS ARE TAX TARGET 3 Pensions will become subject to Inheritance Tax from April 6, 2027 Credit: Getty GRIEVING families will soon find the process of sorting out a loved one's finances much harder following a huge change to Inheritance Tax. The government has confirmed that pensions will become subject to Inheritance Tax from April 6, 2027. Currently, money left in your pension after you pass away can be passed on to a loved one without any need for them to pay Inheritance Tax. The Inheritance Tax rate is 40 per cent, and is charged on the estate – the property, possessions and money, of someone who has died – if it is worth more than £325,000. A loophole means many wealthy pensioners are using pensions as a way to pass down most of their money because they are so tax-efficient. The changes mean that this loophole will close – but experts have warned that it will pile pressure on grieving families. Inheritance Tax needs to be paid within six months, and usually before you can apply for probate. But tracking down pensions takes time, delaying the process of applying for probate. Probate is the legal process of dealing with a person's death, and it can take months to get it granted. Former pensions minister Steve Webb said: 'Life is tough enough when you have just lost a loved one without having extra layers of bureaucracy on top. 'It is hard to see how these changes will be good news for bereaved families.' ADELE COOKE STARLING ACCOUNT UPSET 3 Starling bank will no longer let its users open a second current account Credit: Reuters ONLINE bank Starling has shaken up its current accounts, causing a big stir among customers who are desperate for the change to be reversed. The bank, which has more than 4.6million UK customers, will no longer let its users open a second current account. Starling previously let customers open an extra everyday bank account, free of charge. Savers raved about the perk because it was a great way for them to manage their money. But the digital bank has told The Sun it has temporarily stopped allowing customers to open additional accounts while it 'improves our account offering'. It quietly suspended additional accounts last year, and clients have been calling on the bank to bring back the feature. One customer posted to X this week: '@StarlingBank when will additional accounts be back? I had one and would like to enable it again.' Another posted in January asking: 'Can I create a second personal account in @StarlingBank?' One customer said on Reddit: 'I'm sure it used to be a thing when I first started with Starling, but now I get 'you've reached your personal account limit' with one account, and 'you're not currently able to apply for this account' when I go to open a Personal Additional.' Starling said: 'Customers are still able to apply for a joint account, provided both are Starling customers. 'Joint accounts are limited to one per customer.' BLATHNAID CORLESS
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
'I don't know how I'm going to put food on table let alone days out in summer holidays'
Almost half of parents (48%) are more worried about being able to afford things for their children this summer holiday compared to last year, grim research shows Almost half of parents (48%) are more worried about being able to afford things for their children this summer holiday compared to last year, grim research shows. This rises to 69% for lone parents, a survey by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) found. Some 45% of parents say the cost of childcare is a challenge over the summer and 29% say they have to borrow money or go into debt to cover these costs, the study found. Parents said they will struggle to pay for food and snacks and other basics for their children, such as sun cream, as well as fun activities like sports clubs, a trip to the beach or small treats like an ice cream. Some 44% of parents said they will likely use a foodbank this summer holiday and two in five families (39%) said they would likely use a clothing bank. And more than half of parents (52%) said they were worried about the continued pressure on living standards taking a toll on their children's mental health this summer, while 48% said they were worried about their child's physical health. One parent told the survey: 'I don't know how I'm going to put food on table let alone days out.' One mum, speaking about their son, said: 'The money is just enough to pay the bills and buy essentials. I do feel for him because as a family we can't enjoy outings or short breaks during the summer holidays (which were fun at one time).' Another parent added: 'It [the summer holiday] should be a happy time, but for many people, it's just another mountain to climb. I wish there was more low-cost or free help for families during the holidays. We do our best, but it doesn't always feel like it's enough.' Head of education policy at CPAG Kate Anstey called for the two-child benefit limit to be scrapped. CPAG research estimates that ditching the Tory-era policy, which restricts claims for Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit to the first two children, would lift 350,000 children out of poverty and mean 700,000 children are in less deep poverty. Ms Anstey said: 'This research shows there will be more worry than wonder this summer for millions of desperate families who can't make ends meet. Ministers have promised better living standards and opportunity for all but with children facing another summer cut off from fun and friends - much more action is clearly needed. 'Government's autumn child poverty strategy must restore investment in support for families – including abolition of the two-child limit – otherwise a generation of children will be left behind.' A government spokesman said: 'We recognise the school holidays can be a pressurised time for parents, which is why this government is putting pounds back in parents' pockets both during the holidays and in term time. 'We are also continuing to fund free holiday clubs through the Holiday Activities and Food programme which provides six weeks of activities and meals for any child from a low-income family who needs it.' ::: Survation surveyed 1,580 UK parents on income-related benefits with at least one child aged 4-18 years for CPAG between July 10-17.
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Six ways parents can keep costs low during expensive summer holidays through vouchers, clubs and freebies
Find out how you can get free food, activities and vouchers SUMMER SAVING Six ways parents can keep costs low during expensive summer holidays through vouchers, clubs and freebies Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUMMER holidays can be a financial nightmare for parents already stretched by the cost of living crisis. Across the UK, families could be spending up to £1,000 more per week once school is out. 2 Many cafes and restaurants run "kids eat free" offers during the holidays, helping to cut the cost of days out Credit: Getty And if they decide to go abroad, the average cost of a family holiday now tops £3,600. But help is out there – and there are ways to ease the burden, especially if you're on Universal Credit or a low income. Kids eat free deals In England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, families can make the most of free offers, local council schemes, and low-cost childcare this summer. Many cafes and restaurants run "kids eat free" offers during the holidays, helping to cut the cost of days out. Supermarket chains like Tesco give kids a free meal as long as you buy something from the adult menu. Asda has meals for children at just £1, and you don't need to buy anything else. Restaurant chains like Pizza Express, TGI Fridays, Franco Manca and Bill's also usually have summer deals. These offers are available to all families, not just those on benefits. Free holiday clubs Parents on low incomes can also get support from their local council through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. I've saved £15k on trips to Ibiza, Mallorca & Turkey with term time holidays - I'll never stop, fines are a tax on the working class This gives children the chance to join in with sports, music or creative clubs, and includes a nutritious meal every day for free. The support available depends on your council, but generally families with children who receive free school meals are eligible. In some areas, kids can get a place in a holiday club for the equivalent of four hours a day. Check with your local authority to see what's on offer and how to sign up. Vouchers for bills and groceries Another option for help is the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is also run by local councils. This government scheme gives struggling households access to food or energy vouchers, or direct payments. Councils across England have received a share of £742million in funding, which will run until March 2026. Many councils offer vouchers for supermarkets or energy bills, while others send money directly to residents. You usually qualify if you're on a low income, claiming benefits, or classed as vulnerable. Again, contact your council to find out what help is available. There are also handy apps that can help reduce food costs. Apps to save on food Olio is a popular option that lets households and businesses give away food they don't need. Items are offered for free, but it's often first come, first served, so you have to be quick. Another useful app is Too Good To Go. It offers surprise bags of leftover food from restaurants and shops at a discounted price. You won't know what's in the bag until you collect it, but it can be a good way to save on snacks and meals. Free or cheap days out Families on Universal Credit and other benefits can also get access to top attractions for a fraction of the usual cost. ZSL London Zoo offers £3 tickets for those on Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker's Allowance – a huge saving on peak tickets which usually start at £33. How to survive six weeks of school summer holidays IF you are struggling with the six week summer holidays, you've come to the right place... BATTLING BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining there's nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: 'Don't feel you have to organise every second of the holidays. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun. 'Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play but you need to encourage kids to get used to not being told how to spend their time. 'Ride out the pleas of boredom. Counter it with comments such as, 'What do you think you could do?' and maybe have a list of 'I'm bored' activity ideas on the fridge.' SCREEN OVERLOAD: It's tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter but don't let them gawp their whole summer away in front of a screen. Liat says: 'It's unfair to expect older kids to power down but it's important to set some ground rules. 'Set family tech rules together. If you're often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Maybe tell the kids they aren't allowed any screen time until they've done set chores, some exercise, or a board game. 'Are there times when you'd like to ban screens completely? Perhaps during dinner or when they have friends over to visit. 'Tech is a battleground for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Stand firm and be prepared to be unpopular.' TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Do not feel guilty if you need a bit of downtime. Liat says: 'If you're juggling work and household tasks as well as occupying the kids, it's normal to start feeling overwhelmed or jaded and in need of some peace. 'If you can't afford or don't want to send your kids to all-day camps, look for free kids' workshops so you can get on with jobs or have a break for a couple of hours. 'Seeking a spell of quiet every now and then doesn't make you a bad parent — in fact it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.' SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules can go out the window during holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy children. Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of says: 'Children get grumpy, test boundaries and become challenging when routines are broken. 'Sticking to some kind of routine during the holidays is a good idea. 'We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal times and bed times are broken, it causes dips and peaks in mood. 'Holidays are about having fun but an early night once or twice a week will make everyone happier.' EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get out in the fresh air to tire them out — and make them healthier and happier. Dr Bugembe says: 'Sunshine also tops up vital vitamin D levels which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels run low in winter so let the kids stock up in warmer weather. 'Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to top up. Make sure they're wearing sun cream, get outside and have fun. 'Encourage them to try healthy habits such as cycling and walking. They'll hopefully get hooked and want to carry them on when the weather gets colder.' Other spots such as York Castle Museum offer free entry, while you can visit Kew Gardens or one of the Historic Royal Palaces for just £1. There are even more free or discounted activities, including cinema tickets for as little as £2.50, free sports sessions and library reading challenges that offer free prizes. Childcare is another big cost for parents over summer, but there are ways to ease the pressure. Tax-Free Childcare allows working parents to save 20 per cent on childcare costs. If you've got two children in clubs for five weeks, that could be worth around £300. This support is available for children under 12, or under 17 if they have a disability. You can get up to £500 every three months – a total of £2,000 a year – per child to help with costs like nurseries and summer clubs. However, if you're on Universal Credit or receive tax credits, you must not apply for Tax-Free Childcare as it can affect your benefits. Instead, you can claim help through Universal Credit, which may cover up to 85 per cent of your childcare costs. Summer doesn't have to break the bank. From free meals and clubs to discounted trips and help with childcare, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the holidays without spending a fortune.
