Healthy Start Vouchers
If you are 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 are eligible, you will be sent a Healthy start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your benefit will be added to this card every 4 weeks
To find out more about this support and how to apply please visit Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Blaenau Gwent Food Partnership
Blaenau Gwent Food Partnership are a partnership working together to build a local food system that is healthy, affordable, resilient and fair.
There are many organisations and schemes across Blaenau Gwent that can help you get food.
For further information about getting help with food or to find a Food bank near you please visit https://bgfoodpartnership.co.uk or visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/261062705859843
Free School Meals
Universal Free School Meals
All Primary school pupils from Reception (including full-time Nursery children) in Blaenau Gwent are now entitled to a Free School Meal.
Key stage 2 – Key stage 4:
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit (with an annual income less than £16,190)
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit with net household income of less than £7,400 (£616.67 monthly)
Families who receive Working Tax Credit are not entitled to free school meals.
To find out more and to apply visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/benefits-council-tax-reduction-dhp/free-school-meals
School Uniform Grant
Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for The School Essentials Grant of £125 per learner, and £200 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.
Pupils who receive Free School Meals due to transitional protection arrangements or receive Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) only and not eFSM based on income/benefit related criteria do not qualify for this funding.
From January 2022 all school years are eligible.
All looked after children qualify for the grant, whether they receive free school meals or not.
Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year.
The scheme for the 2023/24 academic year will begin on 1st July 2023 and end on 31st May 2024
For further details please visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/schools-learning/the-school-essentials-grant
Childcare offer Wales
The Childcare Offer for Wales is a combination of free early education (FPN) hours and childcare hours, for eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds, for up to 48 weeks of the year.
To find out more please visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/health-wellbeing-social-care/support-for-children-families/early-years-childcare-play/childcare-offer/information-for-parents
School Transport
Please visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/schools-learning/school-transport to find out information on travel assistance, free transport and safe walking routes
Other Support for families.
The links below will take you to other pages withing the website where you can find information on
Benefits and Grants Benefits, Council Tax Reduction & DHP | Blaenau Gwent CBC (blaenau-gwent.gov.uk)
Flying Start Flying Start | Blaenau Gwent CBC (blaenau-gwent.gov.uk)
Families first Families First | Blaenau Gwent CBC (blaenau-gwent.gov.uk)
Citizens Advice Bureau CAB
Dealing with money issues can sometimes be off-putting, but if you don't understand how things like credit or mortgages work, you could end up losing out financially or getting yourself deep in debt.
The Citizens Advice Bureau can give you the information you need to make the right choices.
For further information and support visit Citizens Advice Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent - Cyngor ar Bopeth Caerffili Blaenau Gwent (citizensadvicecbg.org.uk)