2019  has already signalled MAJOR changes due for Universal Credit, even featuring among Secretary of State Amber Rudd’s tweeted New Years resolutions, to ‘Make our Welfare System Work better and fairer for women’. Ms Rudd made further headlines when the ‘Vote to extend UC to 3 million [was] delayed’ in favour of pilot scheme of 10,000. Whilst exciting and welcomed, those of us in the know about Universal Credit, know this is not a new decision by any means. 

What is new however is, earlier this week Lucy Powell MP tweeted and put forward the question directly to the government asking when they plan to implement recommendations put forward by Save The Children and Centre for Social Justice as proposed in the official Select Committee parliamentary report on ‘Universal Credit: Childcare’ published on 23 December 2018. 

The introduction of this report, which gained MAJOR national news coverage, included a name and story that will by now be very familiar with those who have supported my petition and the ‘Make Childcare Work’ Campaign, because that name and story are mine! 

Following my and fellow Mums On A Mission Gaynor, Lucy and Vikki’s visit to Parliament in October 2018, our evidence session is the basis of FOUR case studies within the report and our recommendations, alongside various charities and organisations are officially backed and recommended in the report submitted to government. 

These include, 100% of childcare costs being recoverable, opposed to current 85%, payments being made directly to childcare providers and especially support with upfront fees, which in fact prevent parents returning to work as we well know. As my story and petition illustrates and the report states, “To many will face a stark choice: turn down a job offer, or get themselves into debt in order to pay for childcare”. 

The success or failure of Universal Credit vitally depends on working parents, by making childcare payments work. 

One key point that seems to have been underreported, but I believe to be one of the most significant points of the report is the price OUR CHILDREN pay. It was my very own 2 year old not being able to go to nursery, and the millions of children like him, that sparked this petition for change.

“Childcare can do so much more than simply enable parents and carers to work. Good quality childcare helps children to flourish... and enhances their education and development in later life” - ‘Universal Credit: Childcare’ report, published 23 December 2018, Work and Pensions Select Committee. 

I’m not really one for New Years resolutions like Ms Rudd, but what I will do is pledge to write again to my local MP for their support, and hope you can join me by pledging to do the same. It can be as simple as (feel free to copy and paste):

Subject: Childcare and Universal Credit 
Dear [name of Local MP], 

I am writing in the hope that you will be able to lend your support by following MPs such as Lucy Powell’s lead by raising issues concerning Childcare and Universal Credit  in Parliament, and also signing this petition: https://bit.ly/2Fqfzxv or head to www.change.org/mumonamission and help to ‘Make Childcare Work’ under UC reforms. 

Over the past months Thuto Mali who started the above petition, has been campaigning with my support to make the childcare element of Universal Credit fairer for struggling families. In October 2018, she visited Parliament and gave oral evidence to the influential Work and Pensions Select Committee about her experiences with the system, as part of their inquiry into childcare and Universal Credit. She also met with then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey, to discuss the challenges parents face with claiming childcare through Universal Credit.

The Committee’s report (which I have included) has just been published and highlights how childcare under Universal Credit isn’t working for struggling families. It recommends that the Government makes urgent changes to Universal Credit to enable parents to get the support they need before they have to pay nursery fees, as well as reviewing the maximum caps on childcare costs that can be reimbursed.
Please see link to ‘Universal Credit: Childcare Report: https://bit.ly/2TmkhA4

Now that the Secretary of State has paused further roll-out of Universal Credit, I believe we have an opportunity to make these changes now – before more parents are affected.

I would welcome your support and the opportunity to discuss my own experiences and concerns with Childcare and Universal Credit, and how you can support in raising this issue in Parliament now that the report has been published.

Please let me know if you would be happy to do so. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
[insert your name]

Together ‘WE CAN DO IT’ and ‘MAKE CHILDCARE WORK’ Let’s make 2019 our year for CHANGE! 

I look forward as ALWAYS to hearing all your stories and experiences. Thank You for your support, please continue to SIGN & SHARE this petition to help reach our next 150,000 signatures milestone and beyond! 

Thuto x 

#MumOnAMission #MakeChildcareWork