Social Justice

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Christmas holidays in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Here's what you need to know about free school meals and vouchers and whether they're being offered in the UK over the school holidays

Free school meals/ Easter holidays

Children are guaranteed a nutritious, healthy meal with the free school meals scheme. Image: Unsplash

Free school meals are a lifeline for many families living in poverty. The scheme means that the poorest children in the country are guaranteed at least one nutritious hot meal a day. But with the Christmas holidays here, free school meals will not be provided to many children living in poverty.

Campaigners have repeatedly called on the government to urgently expand the free school meals scheme. In 2020, footballer Marcus Rashford fought alongside charities and successfully convinced the government to offer meal vouchers over the summer holidays to 1.3 million children in England.

But the government rejected Rashford’s calls to extend the holiday food scheme. Rishi Sunak, then chancellor, said families could rely on holiday and activities clubs instead. 

The government is not directly funding food packages or meal vouchers, so what are the alternatives as the cost of living rises? It is a postcode lottery as the support available largely depends on where you live. 

Here’s what you need to know about whether free school meals are being offered over the Christmas holidays depending on where you’re based in the UK. 

Are free school meals being offered in England over the Christmas holidays?

The government is not directly funding free school meals in England over the Christmas holidays, but your child might get meals or vouchers if your council has decided to provide them. 

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has introduced emergency food provision over the weekends and school holidays to help feed low-income families in the capital. This will run until March 2024.

Local activities for children and young people will be hosted across London over the holidays, with free food available at these events. These might be run by local schools, faith settings, leisure centres, libraries, community centres or adventure playgrounds. Local councils will also have information about activities and support for families over the holidays. Find out more here.

Many councils across England have decided to create their own meal schemes during the school holidays, financed by the household support fund. This is a grant of £500 million distributed between local authorities to help households who need it most. 

In Surrey for example, a £30 voucher will be funded to cover the Christmas holiday period per each eligible child. And in Gloucestershire, eligible families will get £15 per week per child.

Many councils are relying on the Holiday Activities and Food Programme to support low-income families over the Christmas holidays. This is funded by the government and provides “healthy food and enriching activities” to children who are eligible for free school meals. Councils are working with a range of organisations to provide free spots on their schemes. 

This could be at a drama group, dance camp, sports club or other play groups. Over Christmas, all participating children should be offered a minimum of four days of face-to-face provision. Those days should be at least four hours long and eligible children will receive at least one free, nutritious meal each day. 



Are free school meals available in Scotland over the school holidays?

Some councils across Scotland are offering free school meal payments to low-income families over the school holidays.

Universal free school meals for children in primary 1 to 5 will not be available over the holidays – but the Scottish government does fund free school meals over the school holidays for families with income-based eligibility. 

You’ll need to check your local council’s website to find out how to apply and the amount that is available will depend on where you live. 

For example, in Dumfries and Galloway, families will receive a free school meals holiday payment of £27.50 per child. And in Falkirk, it’s £2.50 per day.

These payments are typically paid automatically, and you don’t have to contact your council to get the payment.

Can I get free school meals in Wales over the Christmas holidays?

Free school meals have been provided throughout the school holidays in Wales since 2020, but the scheme was cut off in June this year and it has not been continued for the Christmas holidays either.

Councils in Wales have typically used the funds to provide low-income families with meal vouchers, money or packed lunches to cover the full period of the school holidays. But without the additional funding, many will not be able to afford it this Christmas.

You should check with your local council to see what support may be offered to you.

Are free school meals being offered in Northern Ireland over the Christmas holidays?

Free school meals will not be provided in Northern Ireland over the Christmas holidays. Earlier this year, the government in Northern Ireland axed “holiday hunger” payments for children entitled to free school meals. 

Families of 96,000 children received payments of £27 every fortnight during the school holidays since 2020. But the scheme did not go ahead this Easter or Summer.

The Department for Education said that from April 1 “additional ring-fenced funding has ended and therefore school holiday food grants can no longer be made”. Campaigners called this decision “abhorrent”. 

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