There are now just three weeks to go until Childcare Vouchers, which can save working families up to £1,866 per year on childcare costs, close to new entrants on 4 October 2018. This will leave thousands of working families worse off and could result in some parents being unable to access, or remain in, work. 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.
Any parents wishing to join the scheme need to check what the payroll cut-off date is with their own employer – it may already be too late!
This could be your last chance to join hundreds of thousands of parents, and hundreds of employers across the UK, in supporting the campaign to #SaveChildcareVouchers.
It would be great if you could do one of the following, and share this message with your contacts via your newsletters / social media networks:
- Share this campaign with your networks and on social media: Encourage your friends and colleagues to write to their MP, and use Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to demonstrate your support for the #SaveChildcareVouchers campaign. Follow this link to send your MP a message on social media.
- Contact your local MP: Put pressure on the Government to keep Childcare Vouchers open – it’s free, easy to do, and takes less than five minutes. Just visit www.theyworkforyou.com, enter your postcode to find out who represents you, and click on the green “Send a message” button to contact them.
- Employers can sign the business pledge to #SaveChildcareVouchers. Email cvpa@wacomms.co.uk with the name of your business and the number of your employees. Almost 250 employers representing over 130,000 employees have already backed the campaign. (The name of your business will not be shared publicly unless you give permission).
- Share your story with the campaign: If the changes are going to impact you and you’d be willing to share your experience, get in touch by emailing hello@employersforchildcare.org with your story. Read here about some of the parents who have already contacted us.
Here’s some links to our recent Facebook and Twitter posts on the campaign:
https://twitter.com/EFCCG/status/1039531565880172544
We are already hearing 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 be excluded from joining the Scheme with their new employer.
Full details on the lobbying campaign to #SaveChildcareVouchers are available on the Employers For Childcare website. We hope everyone will get behind this campaign – we truly believe ALL children and parents should be able to benefit from affordable, accessible childcare.
