News News & press releases Businesses, parents, nurseries call for investment to stem Covid childcare crisis A broad group of organisations representing businesses, parents, children, childcare providers, and workers united to renew pressure on the Treasury to take action to prevent nurseries and childminders from closing up shop due to Coronavirus. The group have put out a joint statement which calls for a bailout to stem the risk of a Covid childcare crisis, and long-term investment in childcare as the UK seeks to rebuild from the virus. The coalition comes from a diverse range of interest groups - their agreement shows how widely a loss of childcare capacity would be felt. This statement comes as new analysis by Frontier Economics for the Fawcett Society estimates that, over the course of the lockdown period, childcare providers who have faced a hit to their finances may have lost £228m. The full analysis can be found below. Research from the TUC has also found that one in four (41%) of working mothers with young children can’t get, or are unsure they will get, enough childcare to cover their working hours - without action, employment will be decimated. Click here to read the joint statement in full. Click here to read the Frontier Economics Analysis. The list of signatories Sam Smethers, Chief Executive, Fawcett Society Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, Executive Directors, British Chambers of Commerce Mike Cherry, National Chair, Federation of Small Businesses Jonathan Geldart, Director General, Institute of Directors Ann Francke, Chief Executive, Chartered Management Institute Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance Liz Bayram, Chief Executive, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare Justine Roberts, Chief Executive, Mumsnet Joeli Brearley, Director, Pregnant then Screwed Ros Bragg, Director, Maternity Action Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive, Working Families Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, Women’s Budget Group UK Adrienne Burgess, Joint Chief Executive, Fatherhood Institute Sophie Walker, Chief Executive, Young Women’s Trust Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive, NEF (New Economics Foundation) Dr Jo Grady, General Secretary, University and College Union Christina McAnea, Assistant General Secretary, UNISON Shazia Mustafa, Founder, Third Door Co-working and Nursery Zoe Raven, CEO, Acorn Early YearsNirupama Naidu, campaigner from SEND Crisis Tower HamletsVictoria Benson, Chief Executive Officer, Gingerbread Manage Cookie Preferences