TUC calls for universal free childcare as Nursery bills "skyrocket" in North West

THE TUC has called on the UK Government for 'Universal Free Childcare' after new analysis revealed that Nursery fees have "skyrocketed" across England over the last decade. The TUC analysis shows that the cost of childcare for parents with children under 2 has increased by nearly £3,000 a year in England in the last decade. In 2012 the average full time Nursery bill for a family with a child under 2 was £11,300. But in 2021 it had risen to £14,200 - an increase of 26%.

The TUC analysis shows how childcare costs have shot up by 29% in the North West. the found that fees have increased by £2,800 a year for parents in the Region with kids aged under 2. In 2012 only 2 English Regions (London and the South East) had monthly childcare fees of £1,000 or more. But now Nurseries in every English Region are, on average, charging parents over £1,000 a month. With £2,000 monthly fees:- "around the corner..."

The TUC warns that if childcare costs continue to increase at the same rate, parents will have to fork out £2,000 a month in some parts of Britain in the near future. The Union body estimates that by 2026 Nursery bills will have risen to £2,000 a month in inner London and will reach the same level in the East of England by 2027. The UK spends less than 0.1% of GDP on childcare, the 2nd lowest investment in the OECD. And we now have the 2nd highest childcare costs among leading economies. An estimated 1.7 million women are prevented from taking on more hours of paid work due to childcare issues, resulting in a loss of up to £28.2 bn in economic output each year. And a TUC poll of working parents with pre-School children; published in March 2022; revealed the 32% of parents spend more than a third of their wages on childcare. It also found 15% saying that the costs take up more than 50% of their pay. 

Conservative Liz Truss MP, in the leadership contest pledged to follow through on Government plans to change staff to child ratios for young children. But the TUC warns that plans to reduce staffing ratios would not drive down the costs of childcare, but would instead damage quality and could force more workers out of the sector due to unmanageable workloads. The Union body argues that the childcare industry needs urgent investment and that ministers must immediately raise spending to at least the OECD average of 0.7% of GDP on childcare.

The TUC is calling on the Government to deliver:-

►  Free, high quality childcare, available to all. This would begin from the point where paid maternity or parental leave ends.

►  Better pay and conditions for the childcare workforce. The TUC believes that this should start with guaranteeing a sector wide higher minimum wage for the childcare sector, negotiated between Unions and employers.

►  A new childcare partnership forum. The forum would bring together unions, Government and employers to work together to set a fair pay agreement for childcare workers.

TUC Regional Secretary Jay McKenna said:- "High quality childcare should be affordable for all parents. It's how we keep women in work and close the gender pay gap. But in this cost of living emergency, working families in the North West are spending more and more of their pay packets on childcare bills, while their wages stagnate. This is putting huge stress on family budgets at the same time as other living costs are shooting up. Cutting staffing ratios isn't the answer. It would simply put more pressure on our already overstretched, underpaid and undervalued childcare workers. We desperately need free, quality childcare for all parents; and a long overdue pay rise for childcare workers."

Managing Director of Coram Family and Childcare Megan Jarvie said:- "Childcare is a key part of our country's infrastructure. It enables parents to work and helps to boost young children's outcomes. But the high costs faced by families mean that it is out of reach for too many families. Parents, and mothers in particular, are frozen out of work and children are missing out on this golden opportunity to improve their life chances and narrow the achievement gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. We want to see the next Prime Minister recognise the value of childcare and make sure that every family can access the high quality childcare they need."

* Data for average Nursery costs in Inner and Outer London begins in 2016.
 

IT'S often said that 1 of the hardest things about dementia is getting to know the facts about the condition and then finding out what help and support is available. To help pass on advice and guidance for anyone with any interest in dementia there's a free drop-in Information Day. The event, organised by Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance, runs from:- 10am to 5pm, on:- Thursday, 29 September 2022, will be held at:- Bridge Chapel Centre, Heath Road, Liverpool, L194XR.

Over 30 member organisations will provide exhibition stalls covering every aspect of dementia. Also there's a full programme of presentations including:- talks by Anne Marie Lubanski, Director of Adult Services and Health, Liverpool City Council, and Carole Hill, Associate Liverpool Place Director at the new Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Partnership, plus activities such as Dementia Friends awareness sessions and a dance workshop provided by The Brain Charity.

National Museums Liverpool's acclaimed House of Memories On The Road mobile museum will be on site all day and there will be free legal advice about wills and Power of Attorney.

Chair of Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance, Jack Coutts says:- "This is a great showcase of the excellent services and activities in and around Liverpool for people living with dementia and family carers. We know that Covid19 restrictions meant that many people with the condition and their unpaid carers missed out on information, advice and support so this event is an opportunity to find out what help is available. It will be valuable for anyone with a personal or a professional interest in the condition, or just wanting to know a bit more about dementia. We're really pleased so many public, private and community organisations are taking part as well as people affected by dementia."

Liverpool Dementia Information Day is supported by generous donations from:- Apollo Care, Onward, Alzheimer's Society and Flynn and Eley Associates.  Full details can be found at:- ldid22.dementiaactionliverpool.Com.
 

Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2022 has launched

THE Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is a truly unique event where songwriters are challenged to write a new, original song inspired by a work of art. Now in its twelfth year the Songwriting Challenge welcomes back judges:- Jon Lawton (Owner, Crosstown Studios / Producer), Kaya Herstad Carney (Threshold/vocal coach), Luke Moore (Composer / Operation Lightfoot), Robert Vincent (award winning Musician and Songwriter), and Alison Benson (Musician, Music Teacher, and multiple Challenge winner).

To enter the Challenge a songwriter must visit the Liverpool City Region (Merseyside and Halton) during the entry period of 1st to 30th September and choose a piece of art that inspires them to write a new song. The songwriter or songwriters (collaborations are allowed) can choose any work of art on public display in the Liverpool City Region during the entry period, whether a:- painting, mural, statue, sculpture, stained glass window, pavement art, or anything else generally accepted as:- 'art.'

Songwriters have 1 month from the launch date to write the song and submit it as a recording along with a copy of the lyrics and a photo of the art. The judges will listen to the art-inspired songs and mark each 1 on lyrics, melody, composition and originality.

The 10 highest scoring songs will be revealed at the end of November and will be performed at the Showcase Final, on Saturday, 21 January 2023, at Leaf on Bold St where the Judges' Award winner will be announced. The audience at LEAF will vote for the Audience Favourite award.

The winning songwriters in the 2 categories – Judges Award and Audience Favourite; receive the following prizes:-

►  Song professionally recorded by judge Jon Lawton, at Liverpool's Crosstown Studios.

►  A 2 hour vocal or songwriting lesson, from Judge Kaya Herstad Carney.

►  A cello lesson or a cello part on the song recording, from Operation Lightfoot's Luke Moore.

Liverpool Acoustic's Graham Holland says:- "Every year the Region's songwriters never cease to amaze me with their talent and creativity, combining their love of art and music to create something truly special. Judges Kaya, Jon, Robert, Alison and Luke really do have their work cut out to rate them all and pick a winner. I don't envy them in the slightest!"

The Songwriting Challenge is open to anyone of any age living in the UK. However, entrants must have visited the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley, and Halton) between 1st September and the closing date of 30 September 2022. The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is free to enter. The full rules and conditions of entry are available on the Songwriting Challenge website:- Challenge.LiverpoolAcoustic.Co.UK

Entry to the Showcase Final, on Saturday, 21 January 2023, at LEAF, on Bold Street, Liverpool, will be by ticket only, available in advance from the beginning of December 2022. All profits raised will be split between Marie Curie Cancer Care and Garston Animal Rescue in memory of Liverpool Acoustic team member Sharon Jones who died in May 2011.