On Friday 26th July, Sarah Church, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon, will be hosting an information drop in event along with Swindon mum Tasha Jones who has been part of the Save the Children’s ‘Make Childcare Work’ campaign. The campaign has highlighted that parents on universal credit are being forced into debt to pay for childcare during the school holidays. For some parents, it is simply cheaper not to work than to face childcare debt.
Childcare costs increase during the school holidays, when many parents rely on holiday clubs or childminders while they are at work. Even parents of pre-school-aged children are affected, as they lose their free childcare entitlement during the holidays. A parent with a three or four-year-old who usually receives 30 free hours of childcare in Swindon could face an increase of £620 during the summer holidays.
This is on top of other spikes in costs throughout the year, which leave parents constantly playing catch-up. The different number of days in each month, for example, has left some parents regularly having substantially more to cover resulting in increases in their monthly bills, while others say their childcare providers expect them to pay for whole terms upfront – money they just don’t have.
The Information Drop-In event will take place between 3- 4.30pm at PIPS, St Johns Church, Whitbourne Ave, Swindon, and all parents of school age children who are affected by the high cost of childcare during the summer holidays are invited.
There will be free drinks, snacks and crafts for the kids as well as an expert from Save the Children on hand with information about the campaign. There will be information available from services within Swindon who can offer advice to families on low incomes.
“If paying for childcare over the summer holidays is stopping you going out to work, then you should know you’re not alone. I recently joined the mums who are part of the national campaign, when they went up to Westminster to lobby Parliament to make childcare work. Come along to this friendly drop in and bring the kids.” Sarah Church
