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 Years
Nirupama Naidu, campaigner from SEND Crisis Tower Hamlets
Victoria Benson, Chief Executive Officer, Gingerbread