Having children is definitively one of the most rewarding experiences of life, but we all know how suffocating expenses can be; especially if you have more than one. Food, clothes, education, sports, leisure are only some of the costs that you will have to face when they start growing. The UK Government offers Child Benefit to help families who are finding it hard to make ends meet.
If you have just given birth, we suggest that you claim for Child Benefit before your baby is 3 moths old, if you want to start receiving this help as soon as he comes to life as it is only backdated 3 months from the date your application is received. Anyone taking care of a child has the right to claim these benefit no matter if you are not their parent, until they are 16 years old or 20; if they are enrolled in full-time education. You can claim it for each child you are responsible for.
Having a baby involves many extra costs, which sometimes we are not prepared to assume. The UK has an exceptional system to provide help for new mums, both during their pregnancy and for the first months after giving birth; through Maternity Pay and Maternity Leave up to 39 weeks. You should tell your employer by the 15th week before your due date or before the 24th week of your pregnancy and bear in mind that you are entitled to Maternity Leave no matter how short you have worked for your employer.
Normally, you claim both Maternity Leave and Maternity Pay being the first one for a total of 52 weeks maximum and the second one up to 39 weeks. The earliest you can start your leave is the 11th week before you are due being the latest the day after you have given birth and for a minimum of 2 weeks and up to a year.
We all know that studying and working at the same time can be really tough, and normally people choose to do one of the two. But, what about studying while taking care of children? This can be a total challenge especially when having babies or little kids.
The UK Government, which provides a unique an enviable social system of benefits, wants to provide support to full-time higher education students that have children through Childcare Grant. Good news is that the amount of this help has been increased from the 2014-2015 course to the 2015-2016.
Whereas this year the government provided:
- Up to £150.23 a week for 1 child.
- Up to £257.55 a week for two children or more
After months of rain, cold and indoor-afternoons it is time to enjoy some outdoor fun activities with the kids. It is normal that after a week of hectic work you are running out of ideas. Don´t panic, we will give you a hand!
1. Storytelling and music: during 35 minutes of music and storytelling, the connection between parents and babies is encouraged by this original activity hosted in Royal Albert Hall from 22nd of April until 15th July every Wednesday at 10:00 and 11:30.
2. Sensational Butterflies: Natural History Museum butterfly house displays for the 7th time an amazing tropical butterfly collection with species from Africa, South East Asia and North and South America.
3. Chelsea Physic Garden: every Sunday from April to October you can enjoy free sessions to this garden themed each month to reflect the change of the seasons.
4. Warner Bross Making off Harry Potter: get close to the sets and designs of these acclaimed movies. Be patient with the waiting times as long queues are expected and despite being a bit pricy (85£ for a family of 4) it is definitively worth it!
