Watlington Community Primary School
Financial Support Schemes
Household Support Fund
The DWP Household Support Fund (HSF) is designed to help address cost of living needs; such as food and fuel costs (also some wider essentials). The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is managing this fund for West Norfolk. Please contact the school if you would like to be referred to this scheme.
If you are not eligible for this scheme, please see this link to see how the council could be of assistance during times of hardship. https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/homepage/365/cost_of_living_-_how_the_council_and_others_can_help
OR Ask LILY https://asklily.org.uk/kb5/westnorfolk/cd/results.page?newcommunitychannel=5-6
Norfolk Assistance Scheme
The Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) helps people who are in financial hardship and cannot pay their living costs. There are many reasons why this might happen to you:
- Redundancy
- Work hours have been cut
- On a low income or benefits
- Waiting for Universal Credit payments
- A home emergency such a fire or flood
- Have a special educational need or disability
- Have mental health issues or in ill health
- Have left an abusive relationship
- Have dependent children
- In a resettlement scheme
If you are eligible we can:
- Provide emergency financial help
- Supply essential household goods and furniture
- Give support, guidance and advice
Please follow the link for more information on how to apply
Free School Meals
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically get free school meals if they go to school. It's called universal infant free school meals. You do not have to apply to get these meals, but if you do receive one of the benefits listed below, you should still apply. This is because it can help raise extra funds for your child's school (called Pupil Premium). This Government funding can help with extra tuition, teaching and after school activities.
If your child is in Year 3 or above, you must receive one of the following benefits to get free school meals:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) • Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
You must apply for these free school meals. Please follow the link below if you wish to apply.
https://fiso.norfolk.gov.uk/synergy/Enquiries/Citizen/FreeSchoolMeals.aspx/
You can apply online for free school meals using your Norfolk Education Online (NEO) account. You can use the same account for 2-year-old childcare funding and school admissions.
Food Vouchers
Those in receipt of Free School Meals are also eligible for a £15 monthly food voucher, as part of Norfolk County Council's new Norfolk Cost of Living Support Scheme, to support families in need.
Vouchers will be released via email from November 2022 to March 2024.
NCC are not linking the food vouchers to the school holidays but are issuing them monthly to help families with the cost of living. Parents/ carers may choose to save vouchers rather than spend at the time of issue, so they have more funds available during the school holidays if they wish to, within the constraints of the three-month expiry date of the vouchers.
Note: If vouchers expire, they cannot be reissued.
If you become eligible for Free School Meals, please check we have your correct email address.
Food Bank
Downham Market Food bank is found at:
Eternity Downham Market
The Sovereign Centre
Sovereign Way, Trafalgar Industrial Estate
Downham Market
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE38 9SW