School Meal Holiday Scheme

About the scheme

Please note that this scheme is closing in May 2025.

If you are having financial hardship you may qualify for other financail help such as the Emergency Assistance Scheme.

The School Meal Holiday Scheme for Havering residents gives £15 per child per week.

This ensures eligible families receive additional support so their children don’t go hungry during school holidays.

  • If you have previously applied and are currently receiving payment for your children, you do not need to re-apply. 
  • If you were eligible once, then were not, but now are again, please re-apply as payments will not be automatic.
  • If you have eligible children on the scheme and another one of your children becomes eligible, please also apply for that child because payments for that child will not be automatic.

Next payment date

If you are already on the scheme, or have made a new claim in the last application period, you can expect to get your payment during the week that starts on 19 May 2025.

This payment will be the last payment under the scheme as it is closing.

How to apply 

You can apply for the first time or add additional children by using the 'Apply for the School Holiday Meal Scheme' form below.

If you just want to change your existing details please use the 'Update your details for this scheme' form below.

Apply for the scheme

New applications for the scheme will close at 4pm on 14 May 2025.

Apply for the School Meal Holiday Scheme

Updating or changing your details

If you need to make any changes like updating you bank account, address and email address you should do this at least 3 weeks before the scheme closes or it will delay your payment. 

Update your details for this scheme

Who is eligible to apply?

This scheme is for:

Not eligible

  • If you are in receipt of universal infant free school meals this includes reception, year 1 and year 2. You must receive benefit related free school meals. 
  • If you received transactional protected universal credit free school meals
  • Children in nursery 
  • Children in sixth form or further education 

How we make the payment to you

We issue this payment to you by bank transfer. We do not issue vouchers.

If you do not have a bank account, you can provide details of a trusted family member or a friend to receive this payment on your behalf.

We will email you remittance advice when the payment is made. 

Ensure the bank details are correct and up to date. 

You must update your bank details at least 3 weeks before the scheme closes. 

If you do this after this date it will delay your payment.  

Queries 

If you have queries about non-payment please send an email to schoolmealholidayscheme@havering.gov.uk, quoting the reference number when you applied (which will begin with F) or your National Insurance Number.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

If you are eligible for free school meals and your child is aged 4 to 16 you can also make an application for the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

This programme aims to support families by offering a range of activities and healthy meals.