Support for families
Raising a family can be expensive. You may be able to get financial support, childcare assistance, free school meals, healthy food schemes, and affordable activities to help you make the most of your budget throughout the year.
Holiday Activities and Food
Children and young who are eligible for free school meals are also eligible for free school holiday club places which include a free meal.
Other school holiday support
School holidays can put extra pressure on family budgets, the following links have helpful tips and tricks to help your money go further over the school break.
Money Saving Central have pulled together a list of restaurants, pubs and cafes where children eat for free (or less than £1) during half terms and holidays:
Visit the Money Saving Central website
The UK Debt Service have suggested a range of free (or minimal cost) activities to keep children entertained this summer:
View free or minimal cost entertainment activities for children
More information on local events and activities during school holidays can also be found on the Suffolk County Council website:
Free school meals
If you are in receipt of certain benefits your child may be entitled to free school meals. You can apply for free school meals on the Suffolk County Council website. You'll get an immediate response and confirmation email after you've completed your application.
NHS Healthy Start Scheme
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops and is worth up to £280 a year.
Help with childcare costs
Childcare costs can absorb a huge portion of your income - especially if you have more than one child.
The support you can get depends on the age of your child or children and your situation.
Use the Gov.UK calculator to check what help you could get with childcare costs
Explore options:
- Child Benefit
- Tax-Free childcare
- Free childcare for children aged 9 months for 4 years if you’re working
- 15 hours free childcare a week for 3 to 4 year olds
- Claiming back some of your childcare costs if your getting Universal Credit
- Help available if you’re a student
Please note: You cannot claim tax-free childcare and Universal Credit childcare costs at the same time. Before you apply for either, it is important to find out which option is best for your household.
If you are unsure what help with childcare costs you can get, please contact Citizens Advice
Sure Start Maternity Grant
You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. You usually qualify for the grant if both of the following apply:
- you’re expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already
- you or your partner already get certain benefits
You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 6 months after the baby’s birth. You do not have to pay the grant back and it will not affect your other benefits.