FEAST offers holiday activities with food for children and young people across North Yorkshire, with funded places for eligible families.
Who decides who is eligible?
FEAST is funded by the Department for Education, who set the national rules about which children and young people can receive funded places.
North Yorkshire Together runs FEAST locally on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, and has no control over setting these rules or deciding who meets them. Unfortunately FEAST and its activity providers cannot confirm your child’s eligibility.
Please read the information below for guidance on the new eligibility rules.
Important changes to FEAST eligibility
From autumn 2026, more children can receive free school meals. All children in families receiving Universal Credit can now get free school meals during term time. However, the Government has not extended funded FEAST places to all of these children.
There are now two types of benefits-related free school meals:
- targeted free school meals
- expanded free school meals
You may hear these terms used by North Yorkshire Council or your child’s school. The difference is important because only children receiving targeted free school meals are automatically eligible for funded FEAST places.
Targeted free school meals
Children from Reception to Year 11 receiving targeted free school meals can get funded FEAST places.
Your child is eligible for targeted free school meals if your household receives Universal Credit and earns £7,400 or less a year from work.
The £7,400 figure is based on earnings from work. It does not include the Universal Credit payments you receive.
Your child may also be eligible for targeted free school meals if your family:
- receives income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- receives the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- receives Home Office support for people seeking asylum
- has a low income but cannot claim benefits because of their immigration status
Expanded free school meals
Expanded free school meals are now available to children in households that receive Universal Credit and earn more than £7,400 a year from work.
Children in this group can now receive free school meals during term time, but they do not automatically qualify for funded FEAST places.
In other words, the Government has expanded who can get free school meals, but it has not expanded who can get FEAST vouchers.
What about free school meals for younger children?
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can receive free school meals, regardless of their family’s income. These are sometimes called universal infant free school meals. Receiving these meals alone does not make a child eligible for a funded FEAST place.
They must also meet the rules for targeted free school meals, or be given one of the limited additional places explained below.
My child has had FEAST vouchers before. Are they still eligible?
Not necessarily. Until autumn 2026, some children continued to receive free school meals and FEAST vouchers because their entitlement was protected under earlier Government rules.
This temporary protection has now ended. Your family must meet the current eligibility rules for your child to continue receiving funded FEAST places.
If your child has received FEAST vouchers before but you are unsure whether they are still eligible, contact us at hello@northyorkshiretogether.co.uk
Can any other children receive funded places?
Schools can make a limited number of additional children and young people eligible if they are experiencing significant financial disadvantage.
These places are limited and are not automatically available. If you think your child would particularly benefit from FEAST, please speak privately to their school.
If your child is home educated or does not currently attend school, please email hello@northyorkshiretogether.co.uk.
How will I receive a FEAST voucher?
If your child attends a North Yorkshire school and is eligible, their school will normally send you a FEAST voucher by email or text before the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
The message will come through HolidayActivities. You can use the link in the message to see activities and request places.
If your child is eligible but you have not received a voucher, please contact their school first.
If your child lives in North Yorkshire but goes to school elsewhere, your child may still be able to receive a FEAST voucher, but it will not be sent automatically.
Please email hello@northyorkshiretogether.co.uk for help.
What if my child is not eligible for a funded place?
There may still be other ways for your family to take part or receive support.
1. Book a paid FEAST place
Many FEAST activity providers offer paid places alongside their funded places.
Use our FEAST activity finder to see what is available, then contact the activity provider directly to ask about paid places.
Not every provider can offer paid places, so please check before making plans.
2. Apply for free school meals
Even if your child cannot get a funded FEAST place, they may still be entitled to free school meals during term time.
If your family receives Universal Credit, you can apply through North Yorkshire Council or, for some schools, directly through the school.
Find out about and apply for free school meals
3. Find other financial help
North Yorkshire Council provides information about:
- the Crisis and Resilience Fund
- help with essential household costs
- Council Tax reduction
- benefits you may be entitled to
- money and debt advice
Find financial help from North Yorkshire Council on their Cost of Living page