Is Childcare A Barrier For You?

Photo of a single parent

Statistics show that one in four children today are brought up in a single parent family. More than half of all children will experience life in a lone-parent environment for a percentage of their lives. The statistics are rising, but so are the opportunities for single mothers who want to get back into work.

Rochdale Borough Children’s Services (RCS), in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, is taking part in a pilot to encourage lone parents who are currently unemployed and would like to seek work, to try various types of childcare. Research has shown that although 69% of single parents want to get back into work, many of these are reluctant to do so due to childcare restrictions.

The aim of this scheme by the RCS and Jobcentre Plus is to give parents a ‘Childcare Taster’ of up to five days. They can use these five days however they choose i.e. one day a week, or all five days together. There are many provisions that are being encouraged such as:

• Childminders
• Private Day Nurseries
• Pre-School Playgroups
• Out of School Groups

Better still, all childcare costs will be paid through Rochdale Borough Children’s Services. The child taster launches at

• Middleton Gardens – 30 September – 10am – 3pm
• The Butts in Rochdale – 1 October – 10am – 3pm

Child Co-ordinators and Lone Parent Advisors will be available at the launch, and there will be a FREE £5 voucher for all those who book a childcare chat! For more information please call 01706 714554.