During 2024, Manchester Active and Manchester City Council are offering hundreds of FREE places for children eligible for benefit related free school meals to access a variety of activities over the school holiday periods.

Eligibility checks have changed for 2024 and the registration system will automatically recognise those who are eligible, with a booking code no longer being issued.

Currently all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can get free school meals whatever your income. But, if you receive one of the qualifying incomes (see below) you will need to register for benefit related free school meals in order for the registration system to recognise that your child is eligible for a free school holiday activity place.

Your child may qualify for free school meals if you get any of the following:

- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed part of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (if your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
- Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits
- You may also qualify if you are an asylum seeker, or if a child receives any of these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian.

Think you are eligible? Click this link:
https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500186/education_benefits/7355/apply_for_free_school_meals