85% of parents believe large companies should subsidise childcare costs

RESEARCH commissioned by Cuckooz Nest, a workspace with integrated nursery and sister company to Cuckooz, has found that 85% of parents believe companies with over 250 employees should subsidise the childcare costs they incur. The survey of working parents also found that 91% of parents think the Government should provide tax relief on childcare costs from an earlier age, in order to encourage parents to return to work earlier, if they should so wish. The availability and affordability of childcare is a big issue and 46% of those surveyed stated that the cost of childcare in relation to their salary was the biggest obstacle when returning to work after having a child. Flexibility was the 2nd largest obstacle, at 28% with just 15% stating separation from their child as the hardest barrier when returning to work. 50% of fathers stated that finance was the biggest blocker when considering shared parental leave, with 34% also worried about the risk to their career. Although 52% said that they were happy to wait until their child was between the ages of 1 and 2 before returning to work, 65% would return sooner if they could access more flexible childcare arrangements.  The issue of affordability and flexibility can also impact the career opportunities open to parents, with 52% only willing to commute for up to 30 minutes and 39% for just an hour. Cuckooz Nest is calling on big businesses to do more to support mothers and fathers returning from parental leave and to consider the changes they can make to do this.

Charlie Rosier, Co-Founder of Cuckooz Nest, commented:- "Childcare has always been a hot topic and while parents want to secure the best option possible for their child, the lack of flexibility and the high cost of doing so can often mean this just isn't the case. We've seen the difference on site childcare can have first-hand via Cuckooz Nest when facilitating new mums and dads, their early return to work and the positive impact it brings. But for many, this isn't a luxury they can afford and more has to be done to breach this financial barrier to provide flexible, affordable childcare for everyone. Of course, there are changes the Government can make but we really want to see Britain's big businesses take the lead and get behind this initiative, whether it's to provide an on site nursery or to subsidise the cost for its employees."

Q1. What is the main obstacle that you've faced when going back to work after having a child?

► Cost of childcare V salary = 46%.

► Flexibility = 28%.

► Separation from Child = 15%.

► Other = 9%.

► Travel = 2%.

Q2. What would be the ideal age of your child when returning to work?

► 12 to 24 months = 52%

► 6 to 12 months = 35%

► 3 to 6 months = 13%

Q3. As a working parent, what is the maximum time you'd spend commuting?

► 30 mins = 52%

► 1hr = 39%

► 15 mins = 4%

► 1hr30 = 4%

► 2hr+  = 1%.

Q4. As a father what's stopping you (if anything) from taking shared parental leave?

► Finances 50%.

► Risk to career 34%.

► Not interested in doing so 16%.

Q5. Would you return from maternity/paternity leave sooner if you could access flexible childcare?

► Yes = 65%.

► No = 35%.

Q6. Should the Government provide tax relief on child care costs from an earlier age, to encourage more parents to return to work?

► Yes = 91%.

► No = 9%.

Q7. Should larger organisations (250 + employees) subsidise childcare to encourage more parents to return to work?

► Yes = 85%.

► No = 15%.

Sample size: 1,000 working UK parents. Survey conducted via Survey Monkey . Survey recipients sourced via Cuckooz Nest email database.

NHS dietitians urge public to steer clear of fad diets this January

EXPERT dieticians from Knowsley's weight management service are encouraging people to avoid fad diets that promise a 'quick fix' solution to weight problems this New Year.  On Christmas day alone, many people consume around 6,000 calories and people will gain an average of 1 to 5 pounds over the festive period. Following the holiday season, people are often looking to shift the extra pounds they've gained and the New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start. However, it can be easy to be tempted by weight loss options that promise a quick fix. National advice from the British Dietetic Association recommends that people avoid these potentially dangerous fad diets and urges the public to be aware of the signs of bad dietary advice. Krista Mellor, Changes weight management service lead and registered dietician, works with adults in Knowsley to support them to lose weight through tailored healthy eating plans and expert advice.

"There are lots of diets out there that make bold promises about fixing your weight problems overnight, without having to change your lifestyle. Some fad diets require you to significantly restrict your diet, such as completely avoiding whole food groups or mostly eating just 1 type of food. Not only are these diets bad for your health, any weight you do lose is likely to be unsustainable and you will probably find yourself feeling hungry and unsatisfied, with low energy levels." said Krista Mellor.

Instead, Krista recommends that people lose weight the healthy way, by making positive lifestyle changes with support from nutrition and weight management experts.

Krista added:- "Making positive lifestyle or diet changes can be daunting and it can be hard to know where to start, but our service provides practical support and advice to help you make these changes. This includes simple, but effective healthy eating advice and diet plans that are tailored to meet your individual needs. Not only will we help you to lose weight, but we will support you to make long term changes so you can keep the weight off for good and improve your overall health and wellbeing."

To join Changes or to find out about the healthy lifestyle support available in Knowsley, call the Healthy Knowsley service on:- 0800 0731 202 or visit:-NWBH.NHS.UK/Healthy-Knowsley.

Social house building in North West plummets as tens of thousands wait for a home

NEW analysis carried out by Shelter shows that the delivery of social homes in the North West has plummeted since the start of the decade from 2,963 homes over 2009 to 2010 to 519, over 2017 to 2018; a dramatic fall of 82%. Despite this, the need for social housing in the area is high with more than 180,000 households on the waiting list for social housing. This comes as Shelter's social housing commission launches a landmark report calling for an ambitious 3.1 million new homes across the country, extending the offer of social housing to many more people. After the Grenfell Tower fire, the charity brought together 16 independent commissioners with diverse backgrounds from across the political spectrum to examine the housing crisis in England as it exists today. Among others they include:- Ed Miliband MP, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, TV architect George Clarke, Lord Jim O'Neill and Grenfell survivor Ed Daffarn.

Having spent a year listening to the views of hundreds of social tenants, 31,000 members of the public and a range of housing experts, the commissioners put forward a bold vision for social housing, and who should have the opportunity to live in it. Building for our future: a vision for social housing recommends the Government invests in a major 20 year house building programme, which would offer a social home to millions who fail to qualify under the current system, including:-

► 1.27 million homes for those in greatest housing need - homeless households, those living with a disability or long term illness, or living in very poor conditions.

► 1.17 million homes for 'trapped renters' - younger families who cannot afford to buy and face a lifetime in expensive and insecure private renting.

► 690,000 homes for older private renters - people over 55 struggling with high housing costs and insecurity beyond retirement.

The commissioners argue politicians cannot remain idle at a time when ½ of young people have no chance of ever buying a home, private renters on lower incomes spend an average of 67% of their earnings on rent, and almost 280,000 people in England are homeless.

Commissioner Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said:- "Social mobility has been decimated by decades of political failure to address our worsening housing crisis. ½ of young people cannot buy, and thousands face the horror of homelessness. Our vision for social housing presents a vital political opportunity to reverse this decay. It offers the chance of a stable home to millions of people, providing much needed security and a step up for young families trying to get on in life and save for their future. We simply cannot afford not to act."

Analysis carried out for the commission by Capital Economics suggests the economic benefits of social house building would ultimately outweigh the initial costs. The programme would require an average yearly investment of ₤10.7 billion during the construction phase, but Capital Economics estimate that up to ⅔ of this could be recouped through housing benefit savings and increased tax revenue each year. On this basis the true net additional cost to the Government, if the benefits were fully realised, would be just ₤3.8 billion on average per year over the 20 year period. And after 39 years the investment will have fully paid for itself.

Commissioner Lord Jim O'Neill said:- "There needs to be a profound shift to see social housing as a national asset like any other infrastructure. A home is the foundation of individual success in life, and public house building can be the foundation of national success. It is the only hope the Government has of hitting its 300,000 homes a year target. The Government's budget for capital expenditure is ₤62 billion a year, our house building programme would cost only a fraction and is well within its financial reach. With current spending on housing benefit shockingly inefficient, it's not hard to see what an investment in bricks and mortar could do to help solve the housing crisis and boost our economy."

While a historic renewal of social housing is essential, the report makes clear this must go together with a series of reforms to improve social housing, such as:-

► A new Ofsted style consumer regulator to protect residents and to enforce common standards across social and private renting.

► A new national tenants' voice organisation to represent the views of tenants in social housing to national and local Government.

► A new national standard to ensure enough investment in maintaining social homes and their surrounding neighbourhoods.

Commissioner Ed Miliband MP said:- "The time for the Government to act is now. We have never felt so divided as a nation, but building social homes is priority for people right across our country. This I think is a unique moment for political boldness on social housing investment that we have not seen for a generation. It is the way to restore hope, build strong communities, and fix the broken housing market so that we meet both the needs and the aspirations of millions of people."

The commission recommendations will be presented to the Prime Minister, Theresa May and to Labour's Leader, Jeremy Corbyn. To find out more about Shelter's social housing commission visit:- Shelter.Org.UK/SocialHousing.