Crisis and Resilience Fund

If you have already been awarded a payment since March 2026, this covered both the Easter and May half term holidays and you are unable to reapply.

If you haven’t already applied, applications for May half term holiday payments are open here until 31 May 2026.

The next application period after that will be for the summer holidays, which begin in July. It is expected that applications for the summer holiday will open in late June.

You can apply for any children who receive income assessed Free School Meals (FSM) award administered by us. This includes families that live outside of Cheshire West and Chester but attend a school within this area. If awarded, support will be given for the number of children you have a Free School Meal award for.

Please note, children in Key Stage 1 (reception to year two) automatically receive free meals at school. However, in order to be eligible for school holiday payments from the Crisis and Resilience Fund, the child must be registered for income assessed Free School Meals. Register for Free School Meals.

As part of your application, you will be required to provide your property reference for the address that your Free School Meal claim is registered at.

You can find your property reference number by:

• Clicking the blue search link on the application form
• Entering your postcode and house name/number
• Using the address your FSM claim is registered to (even if it’s outside of the area address)

Your property reference is linked to the address currently registered on your Free School Meals claim.

Therefore, if you have changed address without updating your Free School Meals claim, your property reference will be your former address where your claim was last registered. Please enter the address you are registered at but notify benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk of your new address to avoid future issues.