Dear Parent/Carer
We are writing to let you know that children and young people with a current / protected benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) claim are being offered free access to food, funded through the City of Wolverhampton Council, during the October half-term holiday week (25 – 31 October 2021).
To access this support, your child must be attending a qualifying Wolverhampton school or Academy and have a current / protected benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) in place.
You will need to register your interest online at https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/October between Saturday 2 and Friday 8 October 2021 inclusive, if your child is attending a qualifying setting in Wolverhampton and:
· your child has a current / protected FSM claim in place; or
· you meet the statutory eligibility criteria for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM), not Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
If you don't have access to the internet, you can apply by phone (01902) 290241* between Monday 4 and Friday 8 October 2021 inclusive.
If you don’t meet these requirements, please contact your child/ children’s school/s to discuss your circumstances in confidence.
UIFSM are free meals provided to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, regardless of their family circumstances. These are only available to children who are attending school.
Help with your application
· Please only apply once
· When your application has been successfully submitted, you will see a message on the screen and receive an automated acknowledgement email to the address provided on application
· If you don’t have access to the internet, or don’t have an email address please:
o Contact your child/ children’s school/s – they can help you to complete your application; or
o Call the Stay Safe, Be Kind Helpline on 01902 290241*. If you call before Monday 4 October 2021, they will not be able to help you with your application
· The deadline to apply is Friday 8 October 2021
o If you do not apply before this date, your child/children will not be able to access this support during the October half-term holiday, even if they are eligible to receive benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) during term-time
If your application is successful
· If your application is successful, you will receive a second email by Sunday 17 October 2021
· This email will include information about how to access this support
· If you think that you should have received a second email but you haven’t by Sunday 17 October 2021, please first check your ‘junk/spam’ email, then call 01902 290241* or email freeschoolmeals@wolverhampton.gov.uk between Monday 18 and Friday 22 October 2021. You will need to provide a copy of the acknowledgement email you received when you completed your online application
If your application is not successful, or you need urgent help in the meantime, please speak with your child/children’s school/s in confidence, call 01902 290241* or visit the Council’s Stay Safe Be Kind website (www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/staysafebekind) for information about other support that might be available to you.
*the Stay Safe Be Kind helpline is open during office hours (Mondays to Fridays only, excluding Bank Holidays).