People power can #SaveChildcareVouchers

Parents are being urged to stand together and make their voices heard to #SaveChildcareVouchers before the Government closes the Scheme to ‘new entrants’ on 4 October 2018. People power gained a six-month reprieve for the scheme back in March, now parents are being urged to lobby their MP to keep the scheme open permanently.

Aoife Hamilton, Policy & Information Manager at Employers For Childcare said: “We have registered 100s of new employers and over 1,000 parents to the Scheme in the last three months but now we are taking calls from upset and worried parents no longer able to register. These parents have either missed their September payroll cut-off date, their first born is due after 4 October or they are existing users but in the process of changing jobs and will now be excluded from joining the Scheme with their new employer.

“This is creating hardship and stress for many families who have based their income and outgoings on being able to access Childcare Vouchers – now they have been left adrift. Their only hope is that MPs will stop the closure of the Scheme to new entrants. Employers For Childcare believes Childcare Vouchers should be kept open alongside Tax-Free Childcare and parents should be able to move between the Schemes as their circumstances change.  Both Schemes provide savings but were designed to help and support families with very different incomes and childcare costs.  Parents have told us their childcare needs change annually, therefore they need a flexible and comprehensive package of support – not a ‘one size fits all’ approach which this Government intends to create”.

Aoife concludes: “All parents, grandparents, carers and guardians need to stand up and make their collective voice heard – working families deserve better than this.  Parents can show their support by lobbying their MP to halt the closure of Childcare Vouchers. Visit www.theyworkforyou.com to find your local MP and contact them via email or their social media accounts. This is the last opportunity for parents to do before Parliament goes into recess next Friday (14 September 2018).  We are calling on all MPs to show their support for the working families they represent by halting the closure of Childcare Vouchers immediately”.

Parents are being urged to stand together and make their voices heard to #SaveChildcareVouchers before the Government closes the Scheme to ‘new entrants’ on 4 October 2018. People power gained a six-month reprieve for the scheme back in March, now parents are being urged to lobby their MP to keep the scheme open permanently.

Aoife Hamilton, Policy & Information Manager at Employers For Childcare said: “We have registered 100s of new employers and over 1,000 parents to the Scheme in the last three months but now we are taking calls from upset and worried parents no longer able to register. These parents have either missed their September payroll cut-off date, their first born is due after 4 October or they are existing users but in the process of changing jobs and will now be excluded from joining the Scheme with their new employer.

“This is creating hardship and stress for many families who have based their income and outgoings on being able to access Childcare Vouchers – now they have been left adrift. Their only hope is that MPs will stop the closure of the Scheme to new entrants. Employers For Childcare believes Childcare Vouchers should be kept open alongside Tax-Free Childcare and parents should be able to move between the Schemes as their circumstances change.  Both Schemes provide savings but were designed to help and support families with very different incomes and childcare costs.  Parents have told us their childcare needs change annually, therefore they need a flexible and comprehensive package of support – not a ‘one size fits all’ approach which this Government intends to create”.

Aoife concludes: “All parents, grandparents, carers and guardians need to stand up and make their collective voice heard – working families deserve better than this.  Parents can show their support by lobbying their MP to halt the closure of Childcare Vouchers. Visit www.theyworkforyou.com to find your local MP and contact them via email or their social media accounts. This is the last opportunity for parents to do so before Parliament goes into recess next Thursday (13 September 2018).  We are calling on all MPs to show their support for the working families they represent by halting the closure of Childcare Vouchers immediately”.