Website maintenance Wednesday 8 May
The Sutton council website will be down for essential maintenance on 8 May from 5.30pm. You will not be able to access the site during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Financial support for families
From free school meals to holiday activities, support is available for bringing up children.
Families with under 5s
- Tax free and free childcare: find out more and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk
- Universal Credit Childcare support: you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit. Claim back Childcare costs
Free activities for young children are available at our Children’s Centres, HomeStart and local libraries.
Family hubs
Family Hubs (there are 4 in Sutton) bring together the support a family may need, from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or 25 if they SEND). Family Hubs aim to make a positive difference to parents, carers and their children by providing a mix of physical and virtual spaces, as well as outreach work.
Help with maternity costs
You could claim a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.
Check if you’re eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant
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 through NHS Healthy Start.
Families with children still at school/college
Free school meals
Free school meals can be applied for your child, if they attend any state funded school, including nursery, primary and secondary and you meet the eligibility criteria. Currently, the government provides free school meals for all pupils attending state funded primary schools from Reception to Year 6.
Check if you're eligible
Free school meals are available to pupils in England during term time if parents get certain benefits.
Check if you are eligible and apply for free school meals
Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)
The HAF programme provides free fun holiday-enriching and physical activities with nutritious meals for children and young people (from Reception to Year 11) receiving benefits-related free school meals.
Sutton runs its HAF programme during the Easter, summer and winter school holidays.
Find out more about our HAF programme
Free school uniforms
Sutton Community Uniform Bank provides free school uniforms for 4 - 18 year olds (they are unable to provide footwear). There is no eligibility to use this service (it is open to anyone with a child or young person who needs a school uniform).
Find out more about the School Uniform Bank
For everyone
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
Free activities
Our museums and galleries have fantastic days out for free, for all ages. The Honeywood Museum regularly has SEND ‘quiet days’ for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Other support
Our Cost of Living web page has lots more information, from food banks and community fridge’s, crisis loans and discretionary grants, the Household Support Fund, work support for parents and more.
Together for Sutton brings together a host of organisations and charities in Sutton and is an independent, impartial, free and confidential information and advice service - the ideal contact if you are not sure who can help you professionally or personally.
Find out more about Together for Sutton
The Sutton Information Hub has a wealth of information for families in Sutton, from finding a local charity and community group, support services, activities and things to do and much more -
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