Policy Issues

Our policy position is focused on our organisational ethos "to make it easier for parents with dependent children to get into work and to stay in work".  We campaign on a number of issues:

Access to affordable and appropriate childcare

We work to enact change at Government level, urging Government to recognise that childcare is both a labour market and an economic issue.  In Northern Ireland we do not have an up to date childcare strategy.  In addition, mainstream funding for childcare and a lead department to adequately address provision are also absent.  The other three regions of the UK have childcare strategies in place. Furthermore, the Childcare Act 2006 ensures that there is sufficient childcare provision for families in England and Wales.  We will continue to lobby and influence policy on childcare and work related issues for the benefit of working parents in Northern Ireland.

Access to advice and information

We provide an independent Childcare Information Service to families in the region, specialising in the areas of childcare and work related issues.  We are particularly dedicated to raising awareness of the potential help and support available with childcare costs.  It is our ambition to raise this level of awareness amongst parents in order to make it easier for them to access and stay in work. In addition, we feel that through Government support and intervention, more parents would be better informed.

Recognition of Social Enterprises

We operate as a Social Enterprise and are enormously proud of the fact that we are currently 100% self-financing.  Our social aims are of equal importance to our commercial activities. We believe that local Government needs to recognise the valuable work of Social Enterprises through stronger recognition and support.  The Government needs to consider mechanisms which stimulate and encourage the growth, development and sustainability of Social Enterprises within the region