For families who rely on free school meals during term time, it can be a daunting prospect having to find the money to feed children over the long school holidays.
With the cost of living crisis looming large, many parents were already struggling to make ends meet before kids broke up from school. Thankfully councils are doing their bit to help - with cash, vouchers and free holiday clubs - but what's on offer and how much financial support you can get depends on what area you live in.
While it's families who qualify for income-based free school meals who are entitled to the funding, the figure for that is currently set at £7,400 per household, sparking calls for that to be raised.
Read more: 60+ free and cheap things to do with the kids in and around Manchester this summer
And there are further concerns that what families do receive is somewhat of a postcode lottery.
A primary school child in Stockport for instance will receive £30 over the summer, while a child in Rochdale will get £90. Poverty charity Turn2us is among those who have been raising concerns over the impact of soaring living costs on families.
Almost half its users (47%) reported being left with nothing to live on each week after paying housing, council tax and utility bills. The survey, completed by 2,730 of the charity’s service users, found that the same group of people reported weekly food costs of £75, leaving many pushed into debt just to put meals on the table for themselves and their families.
This figure rises to £93 per week for families with children, with 49% reporting to have nothing left to live on each week – a slight increase from households without children.
Michael Clarke, head of information programmes at Turn2us, said: “Every day we see more people struggling to afford life’s absolute basics as the cost-of-living continues to push millions of people onto the edge of a financial crisis.
"We are hearing from parents who are skipping meals to try and keep their children fed, or who are making impossible choices between paying rocketing energy bills or rent. This isn’t right. Many people using our services come to us when they are at their most desperate and we fear the worst is yet to come over the coming months."
While some councils are giving out vouchers to be used in supermarkets, others are giving cash.
Here's what councils across Greater Manchester are offering this summer
Manchester
Parents eligible for free school meals are getting two payments. They received a £15 payment per pupil last month and will be getting a £40 payment across the summer break.
Salford
Parents of children eligible for free school meals are getting £65 in shopping vouchers. The vouchers can be spent in all major supermarkets.
Trafford
The council is giving eligible children £15 per week for the six-week summer holidays – it is a cash-first scheme, although families can opt for vouchers if they wish.
Tameside
Each child receiving a benefits-related free school meal will be given a £50 voucher, this will be for a designated supermarket chain selected by their school.
Stockport
Eligible secondary school children will receive £45, while those in primary and pre-school will receive £30. They will be sent a voucher, which they can take to the Post Office to redeem for cash.
Bury
Children who qualify will be given supermarket vouchers, to the value of £15 per week per child.
Oldham
Vouchers are being sent out to the sum of £40 per qualifying child. If the vouchers have been sent electronically, the recipient can spend them at a range of supermarkets. If they have been sent by paper, they have to be spent at Tesco.
Rochdale
Each eligible child will get vouchers worth £90. These can be spent in Aldi and Iceland.
Bolton
For four weeks of the holidays the council is running free activity clubs where qualifying children can eat for free. If children don't attend, parents can collect lunches from a number of pick-up points.
Each qualifying child will also get a £70 voucher is to help during the rest of the holidays. They are digital vouchers that can be spent in supermarkets.
Wigan
Wigan Council is financially supporting families with children receiving free school meals over the school holidays with either a lump sum or Aldi shopping vouchers.
Do you think it's fair that the support differs depending on area? Are you a cafe or charity offering free lunches for kids this school holidays? Let us know in the comments here.
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