CHILDCARE SUPPORT FOR NORTH LANARKSHIRE FAMILIES
Unemployed parents across North Lanarkshire are being urged to take advantage of support to help with childcare costs during their first weeks in a new job.
Recent research from the Daycare Trust has shown that over the last 12 months the cost of childcare has risen at four times the rate of inflation for nursery places and ten times for school age children, making the transition from unemployment back into work difficult for many low-income families.
The Childcare Development Fund helps local people to cover the cost of childcare for up to four weeks, allowing children to be cared for in the period between a final Income Support payment and the first pay cheque.
The Childcare Development Fund is part of the comprehensive package of support offered to the long-term unemployed, lone parents and school-leavers by employability and training service North Lanarkshire’s Working.
North Lanarkshire’s Working partner organisation Routes to Work is responsible for administering the Childcare Development Fund. Routes to Work’s dedicated Key Workers provide assistance to jobseekers at every step of the process in getting back to work, and can help with detailed advice on childcare, transport, training, employability and financial support.
Since the launch of the Childcare Development Fund in April 2008, nearly 200 parents from across North Lanarkshire have used it to help them through their first four weeks in employment or training.
Single parent George Cumming, from Motherwell, is back in full-time employment as a direct result of the financial help he received from the Childcare Development Fund. Two years ago, he gave up his job as a delivery driver to take sole custody of his two daughters Nicole and Carly.
Seven months later, with his daughters settled in to their new routine, George was ready to return to the workforce, and he turned to Routes to Work for support.
George, 34, said: “It would have been a big struggle for me to start a new job and pay for my daughters to be looked after before I was paid for my first month of work. Childcare is expensive, and I was really worried about whether I could even afford to go back to work.
“The advice I received from Routes to Work about the support available from the Childcare Development Fund was a big relief, and it was great to know that cost of the first four weeks of Nicole and Carly’s daycare was covered.
“I’ve been back working as a delivery driver again for a full year now, and Routes to Work have also helped me find out about the tax credits I’m eligible for which helps to keep my childcare costs affordable.
“I’d advise any parent in North Lanarkshire who is keen to get back to work but worried about money to contact Routes to Work for help. They gave me the support I needed to start work again and they could do the same for you too.”
North Lanarkshire’s Working, an employability partnership led by North Lanarkshire Council, identifies and trains unemployed individuals and matches them up with businesses in the area. To date, the European Union-funded partnership has supported 8,000 local people and helped nearly 1,900 back to work.
Maureen McConachie, Head of Regeneration Services at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Reliable, quality childcare is vital for many parents who want to work to support their families but the cost of ensuring a child is looked after during the working day can be a barrier to employment for many people.
“If a parent can’t afford to cover the cost of childcare until they start receiving pay from their job, it can prevent them from joining the workforce altogether.
“By providing support to local people in this situation, the Childcare Development Fund is making a real difference to families and businesses alike. Parents and children benefit from additional income and the increased self-esteem which comes from being employed, while businesses are able to access a wider base of potential employees.”
For more information on the Childcare Development Fund, call the North Lanarkshire’s Working adviceline on 0800 0730 226.
