Family and childcare support

Family and childcare support available in the borough.

Funding for under five childcare support

There are various forms of financial help available to help families meet their childcare and other costs. This includes free childcare. Visit Achieving for Children to find out more.

• Telephone: 020 8547 5215
• Email: fis@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Tax-Free Childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every three months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

Find out more about Tax-Free Childcare (GOV.UK).

Free childcare

Families in England who have 2-year-old children and are on certain benefits can get 15 hours of free childcare a week.

Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4-year-old children can receive 30 hours of free childcare a week.

Find out more about free childcare (Childcare Choices).

Child Benefit

You get 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). Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for. You may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit in tax if your (or your partner’s) individual income is over £50,000.

Find out more about Child Benefit (GOV.UK).

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

• Is under 16 years old
• Has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

Find out more about Disability Living Allowance (GOV.UK).

Universal Credit childcare costs

If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. This includes holiday clubs, after-school clubs and breakfast clubs.

Find out more about Universal Credit childcare costs (GOV.UK).

Sure Start Maternity Grant

If you receive certain benefits and expecting your first child, you could also be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.

Find out more about the Sure Start Maternity Grant (GOV.UK).

Maternity Allowance

Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off work to have a baby.

You could be eligible for Maternity Allowance if you:

• Are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
• Are self-employed
• Have recently stopped working
• Take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner

Find out more about Maternity Allowance (GOV.UK).

Healthy Start vouchers

If you are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old, and you or your family already receive income support or Universal Credit, you could be eligible for Healthy Start vouchers.

Telephone: 0345 607 6823 (NHS)

Local Assistance Scheme

For those residents in receipt of welfare benefits, there are crisis grants available to help in an emergency for household items, food and baby essentials. Find out more about the Local Assistance Scheme.

Free school meals and food support

Find out more about who is eligible for free school meals and what other food support is available in the borough.

Little Village

Little Village provides equipment, clothes, and toys free of charge to families with children under the age of 5. To receive our help, you need to be referred by a professional, such as a midwife, health visitor, food bank or local mutual support groups.

Find out more about Little Village.

Skylarks

Skylarks is a local charity that provides support and advice for families who have children with any additional needs or disabilities. They are a registered referrer for the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Scheme, which provides grants for essential items and equipment.

• Website: Skylarks
• Email: info@skylarks.charity

The Extra Mile

Supporting families in Hampton and beyond, to provide essentials for children who are in need. If you are in need of support, please contact a professional, tell them about The Extra Mile and ask them to refer you.

Website: Hampton Mission Partnership

City and Diocese Voluntary Schools Fund

The London Diocesan Board's City and Diocese Voluntary Schools Fund provides grants to schools and individuals to support pupils in need of financial help. Priority is given to applications to support the cost for individuals of school journeys, day trips and music tuition. There are eight Church of England Schools in Richmond. There are eight schools covered by this fund:

• St John The Baptist Church of England Junior School (7 to 11 years)
• St Mary's and St Peter’s CE Primary School (4 to 11 years)
• Archdeacon Cambridge's CE Primary School (3 to 11 years)
• St Mary's CE Primary School (infant – 3 sites) (4 to 11 years)
• St Mary's Church of England Primary School (junior site) (4 to 11 years)
• St Stephen’s CE Primary School (7 to 11 years)
• Bishop Perrin CE Primary School (4 to 11 years)
• St Mary's Hampton CE Primary School (4 to 11 years)

Applications are accepted from schools and individuals. The next deadline for school journeys happening in spring 2023 is 31 October 2022.

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow

Home-Start is a local charity providing compassionate, confidential support to struggling families with at least one child under the age of five years and mothers-to-be in their third trimester.

They can help families access other services including referral to BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Scheme, food bank vouchers, Little Village and the Extra Mile, plus signposting to debt, personal finance and benefits advice.

• Website: Home-Start Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow
• Email: info@homestart-rkh.org.uk