Affordable Schools

Cost of living information and support for parents and carers

At Ashton Keynes C of E Primary we understand that the cost of supporting your children through school can put pressure on your household budgets. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in money worries for many more families and now we are facing even further pressures with increases in cost of living for essentials like food, heating and fuel.      

We understand how difficult it can be when children are unable to participate in activities in the way they would like to, when costs get in the way. We want all our children to feel comfortable and confident in school and be able to participate in everything that is on offer.  We want to do all we can to make every school day affordable for all our families and to help you find the support you might need if you have money concerns. 

Getting help 

It can be difficult to talk about money worries.  People finding it hard to make ends meet often hang on and try and sort things out themselves; not seeking help until the situation has become very difficult.  Whatever the issues you are facing we would encourage you to ask for support before things get that way. There is no shame in seeking support and both the school and the help organisations listed below will help with sensitivity and confidentiality. 

Please talk to us about your concerns so that we can work together to ensure your child can access everything on offer whatever the cost. Please come and speak to a member of our office team or give them a call on 01285 861436.

There are also many sources of support from both local and national organisations. Here are some key agencies that we recommend: 

Local support

Advice Local: find local advice services in your area.

Advicelocal

Community Directory 

Interactive Community Directory – Wiltshire Council

Council tax, benefits and financial support 

Council tax, benefits and financial support – Wiltshire Council

Energy costs advice and guidance

Energy costs advice and guidance – Wiltshire Council

Housing information and support

Housing information and support – Wiltshire Council

Mental Health support

Mental Health support – Wiltshire Council

Local Practical Help

Local practical help – Wiltshire Council

Supporting businesses

Supporting businesses through the rising cost of living – Wiltshire Council

Warm spaces

Wiltshire Council warm spaces – Wiltshire Council

National Advice and Information Support Services

Citizens Advice: free, independent and confidential financial advice

Search for your local Citizens Advice – Citizens Advice

EntitledTo: benefit calculator to make sure families are getting the support they are entitled to

Benefits Calculator – entitledto – independent | accurate | reliable

The Money Advice Service: Government website offering comprehensive guidance on all aspects of money, benefits, debt and investments.

Benefits | MoneyHelper

Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert: Martin Lewis’ free site saves you money on Credit Cards, Shopping, Energy & more. Consumer champion. Money saving guides. Fighting your corner. Easy to Use.

Money Saving Expert: Energy Help, Credit Cards, Flight Delays, Shopping and more

Shelter: free support from expert housing advisers

Get help from Shelter – Shelter England

BBC i-player: There are lots of money-related tips on this programme on BBC i-player. You can listen any time. Topics have included surviving debt, tips for rented housing, coping with cost of living rises, avoiding scams and fraud calls, applying for benefits and much more.  

BBC Radio 4 – Money Box – Available now

NHS Low Income Scheme: If you have a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme could help depending on your weekly income and necessary outgoings, plus any savings or investments you have at the time you apply

NHS Low Income Scheme | NHSBSA

The home energy scheme: Energy and cost saving actions which could help reduce bills

Energy saving tips to save money – Help for Households

Support for your family and school Parents can claim ‘Pupil Premium’ support for children (referred to as Free School Meals FSM) if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits:Income Support income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999the guaranteed element of Pension CreditChild Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit Universal Credit – if applying on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax & not including any benefits you get) This entitles your child to free school meals, beyond EYFS and KS1 where this provision is universal, as well as a wide range of additional support for your child (academic, cost of the school day support and wellbeing) Information for parents about access and benefits of claiming FSM can be found at: Free school meals – Wiltshire CouncilIf your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll also qualify for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme. Food vouchers may also be available through the Household Support Fund.Please ask the school for support if you have any questions about your entitlement or application.

Summer Holiday Support 2024

Kids eat free at any of the restaurants stated below.

If you are in need of Furniture and/or Clothing Donations: BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials. The programme can deliver or fund critical items such as: Cookers, Furniture, Kitchen equipment and small appliances (FREE) Apply For A Grant – BBC Children in Need
Children’s beds and bedding (including cots), Washing machines and tumble dryers, Fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers, Baby equipment and Clothing for an emergency/crisis. (Grant available) https://www.familyfundservices.co.uk/
Furniture and Appliances (low cost):  https://kfr.org.uk/buy Waste not want not. Low cost furniture and appliances. https://waste-not-want-not.org.uk/
Free Hospital Trust Fund (FHTF): Grant available for Clothing and shoes and if applicable, bedding grants for individual children and their siblings (who are aged 18 years and under at the time of the funding allocation) Gloucestershire ONLY. Glosfamilies Directory | The Free Hospital Trust Fund (FHTF) for Children & Young People – Early Help Assessment (EHA) and Non EHA applications – Clothing and ShoesEmergency Hardship Fund (HEALS of Malmesbury): Grant available Malmesbury and surrounding villages, hardship fund to support families in financial crises with essential bills, and household equipment. Wiltshire ONLY. 

EMERGENCY HARDSHIP FUND | HEALS of Malmesbury (healsmalmesbury.co.uk)The Pheonix Trust:Grant available to help disadvantaged families by offering financial help to parents whose children would otherwise go without. Including contribute towards school trips, holiday club fees, child safety equipment, ear thermometers and much more. Need to be registered with Phoenix Surgery, Avenue Surgery, Park Surgery, St. Peters Road Surgery, Rendcomb Surgery. Referral to be made from health professional (e.g. GP/School Nurse). Phoenix Charitable Trust (Cirencester & District) | “The prescription you can’t write!”

The Grace Network (opening Summer 2024, located in the old House of Fraser building in Cirencester). The Grace Network have a number of community interest companies including Stroud Kids Stuff (includes teenage clothes), Furniture Bank (provides a “pay as you can” furniture), Bike Drop (provides bikes to those in need), The Long Table (provides “pay as you can”, or “take what you need” (zero cost) food including ‘Freezer of Love’ ready meals). Grace Network (thegracenetwork.org.uk)www.thelongtableonline.comStroud District Kids StuffStroud & Cirencester Furniture Bank (strouddistrictfurniturebank.org.uk)

Foodbank Vouchers and Fresh food cards: referral is normally required from a professional (e.g. housing, social care, education, health). 

• www.malmesburydistrict.foodbank.org.uk  (Malmesbury and Cricklade 01666 826982)
• https://cirencester.foodbank.org.uk/ (Cirencester 01285 896360)

Community Fridges(no referral/voucher required families take what they need).

• Malmesbury Community Fridge (Malmesbury Town Hall Monday – Saturday daytime. No referral required, families can help themselves. COMMUNITY FRIDGE | HEALS of Malmesbury (healsmalmesbury.co.uk)
• Tetbury Community Fridge (The Old Courthouse, 63 Long Street, Tetbury GL8 8AA)
• Purton Community Fridge (Silver Threads Hall, 20 Hooks Hill, Purton, SN5 4AS) Tuesday – Friday 10:00-16:00)

FREE School Holidays activities:

Holiday Activity Fund (HAF): HAF is funded across England by the Department for Education (DfE) and aims to provide children and young people who are eligible for benefits related free school meals (FSM) with free access to enriching activities,  nutritious meals and healthy eating information during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. For those children who live in Wiltshire: The HAF programme is delivered in Wiltshire using the brand FUEL (Food, Unity, Energy, Laughter) and the programme is a direct response to the growing issue of holiday hunger which is having a significant impact on low-income families.Wiltshire parents/carers who meet the criteria for FUEL/HAF can register for an account on the link below, and book the activities once they are released (no later than 25th of June). Bookings are managed via our central booking system. https://rightchoice.wiltshire.gov.uk/Page/31835 Families can set that up at any point in the year. It enables them to make and manage bookings each delivery window. For those families who are unable to sign up/register, the manager has said send their email address’ to FuelProgramme@wiltshire.gov.uk, and they will add them to their notification emails. They are also happy to manually book children onto activities, for those families who struggle to access the booking system. Gloucestershire children that meet the HAF criteria: From 12pm on 17th of June, families will be able to view the activities that will be on offer this summer. Activities will be marked HAF, HAP, or both. Then from 12pm on 1 July families will be able to book activities using the Children Activities Booking System (CABS). Register for “Children Activities Booking System (CABS)” through this link https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/register-for-our-childrens-activities-booking-system/

Fuel Programme for families living in Wiltshire