The summer holidays are here and many families are looking forward to spending quality time with their children. However, feeding them can be a challenge, especially if you are on a tight budget or rely on free school meals during term time. Fortunately, there are some places where you can get free or low-cost meals for your kids this summer, whether you are dining out or staying at home. Here are some of the options available across the UK that will help you feed your kids for free or cheap.
Restaurants and Cafes
If you want to treat your kids to a meal out, there are some restaurants and cafes that offer free or cheap deals for children during the summer holidays. Here are some of them:
| Establishment | Offer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Asda Cafés | Children eat for £1 | No minimum spend for adults. Available in England and Wales1 |
| Bella Italia | Children eat for £1 | Weekdays only. One adult main required per child1 |
| Bill’s | Children eat for free | Weekdays only. One adult main required per two children under 102 |
| Bodeans | Children eat for free | All week long at the Clapham branch, London. One adult main required per child2 |
| Gordon Ramsay Restaurants | Children eat for free | All week long at selected London, Liverpool and Edinburgh branches. One adult main required per child under 82 |
| Hungry Horse | Children eat for £1 | Monday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm. One adult main required per child1 |
| Morrisons | Children eat for free | All day every day. One adult main required per child1 |
| Purezza | Children eat for free | All week long at selected London and Brighton branches. One adult main required per child1 |
| TGI Fridays | Children eat for free | Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 6pm. One adult main required per child3 |
Supermarkets
If you prefer to cook at home or pack a picnic, some supermarkets are offering vouchers or discounts to help you buy nutritious food for your kids this summer. Here are some of them:
| Supermarket | Offer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aldi | £15 voucher per child per week | Available in England only. For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| Co-op | £15 voucher per child per week | Available in England only. For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| M&S Cafés | Children eat for £1 with any hot drink purchase | Available in England, Scotland and Wales3 |
| Tesco Cafés | Children eat for free with any adult meal purchase over £3.50 | Available in England, Scotland and Wales3 |
Local Councils
Some local councils are also providing support to families who need help with feeding their children during the summer holidays. This may include food vouchers, food parcels, holiday clubs or activities with meals. The eligibility and availability of these schemes may vary depending on where you live and whether you receive certain benefits. Here are some examples of local councils that offer such support:
| Local council | Offer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | £75 voucher per child for the whole summer holiday period | For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| London boroughs | Free food for kids throughout all school holidays until March 2024 | For families who receive free school meals during term time or need extra support4 |
| Manchester | £15 voucher per child per week for the whole summer holiday period | For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Free packed lunches at selected venues across the city | For all children under 184 |
| Sheffield | £50 voucher per child for the whole summer holiday period | For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| Solihull | £30 voucher per child for the whole summer holiday period | For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
| Surrey | £90 voucher per child for the whole summer holiday period | For families who receive free school meals during term time4 |
To find out what your local council is offering, visit their official website and search for the relevant page. Alternatively, you can search by typing your city’s name or local council’s name into Google, followed by ‘food vouchers summer holidays 2023’ – and hopefully the relevant result will appear.
Holiday Activity and Food Programmes
Every council in England also has Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programmes running during the summer holidays. This scheme aims to provide support to children in receipt of free school meals during term time by providing activities and healthy meals. The programmes are free to join and may include sports, arts, crafts, music, cooking and more. To find out more about the HAF programmes in your area, visit the gov.uk website and enter your postcode.
Other sources of help
If you are still struggling to feed your kids this summer, there are some other sources of help that you can turn to. These include:
- Food banks: These are places where you can get free emergency food parcels if you are in financial crisis. You may need a referral from a professional such as a social worker, health visitor or school staff to access a food bank. To find your nearest food bank, visit the Trussell Trust website or the Independent Food Aid Network website.
- Community fridges: These are places where you can get free surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. You do not need a referral or any proof of income to access a community fridge. To find your nearest community fridge, visit the Hubbub website.
- Free breakfast clubs: Some schools, churches or community groups may run free breakfast clubs for children during the summer holidays. These may provide a healthy meal as well as some fun activities. To find out if there is a free breakfast club near you, contact your local school, church or community group.
We hope this blog post has given you some useful information on how to feed your kids for free or cheap this summer holiday. Remember, you are not alone and there is help available if you need it. Have a great summer and stay safe!
Resources
1: Kids eat free summer holidays 2023: All the UK supermarket cafes and … 4. Free school meal vouchers: Can you get them for 2023 summer holidays … 3. Full list of restaurants and cafes where kids can eat free or cheap this … 5. How to apply for free school meals – is your child eligible? 2. Where can kids eat for free in summer 2023? – BBC Good Food