From the Suffragettes, to the burning of the bra and our First female Prime Minister Thatcher to our present PM Teresa May at the helm of Brexit negotiations (I’ll leave that one there), and even on the frontlines of war - historically women have been unafraid to fight for not only their rights, but the rights of all. 

In celebration of International Women’s day I take a look at the women on the frontline of the Universal Credit: Childcare battle from working mums to MPs. 

Back in January four working single mums, Danielle Johnson, Claire Woods, Erin Barrett and Katie Stewart hit the headlines as they won a landmark legal victory at the High Court against The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) - leaving the Secretary of State Rt Hon Amber Rudd speechless, as the victory was not mentioned in her Universal Credit speech given the same morning. 

The stage however had been prepared back in October 2018 by four other single working mothers, Lucy Collins, Gaynor Rowles, Vikki Waterman (pictured right) and Thuto Mali (pictured left). Not only did our evidence given to the influential Work and Pensions Committee chaired by Frank Field MP gain national broadcast and print news coverage, our recommendations formed the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee ‘Universal Credit: Childcare’, Official Parliamentary published in December 2018. 

I also handed this petition which then had 95,000+ signatures to the former Secretary of State, Esther McVey. 

With your signatures and support, now is the time to ensure we hand it to the current Secretary of State Amber Rudd and have our day of debate in Parliament once and for all. 

Last week as reported in the 19th annual ‘Coram Family and Childcare’ Childcare Survey 2019 (28 February), it was reported that. “The Childcare Survey 2019 shows a mixed picture for families in Britain. Despite some improvements in the sufficiency of childcare, persistent gaps remain. And despite additional government investment in childcare which help some families, others are facing eye wateringly high prices. Some parents are still worse off in work once they have paid for childcare...”

This is exactly my story and that of so many others, as my annual childcare bill would range from £21,600 - £18,000 - way off the reported average figure for a 2 year old in full time nursery. 

Something which the report and The Telegraph acknowledges as Nursery fees and Childcare cost are as expensive as going to University. One Fashion Director in another publication stated she has paid more for her twins nursery fees than she had as a down payment on her home.

Another key point made by the report was the annual increase in prices of 3% for under 2 years old and 4% for over 2 year olds based on a 25 hour week. 

According to gov.uk average working week or ‘time in the office’ is 42.3 hours per week. Clearly we still have a long way to go to ensure the figures add up. 

You may recall that I urged those of you that can, to please join us in solidarity by e-mailing your local MPs to tell them your own stories and concerns regarding Childcare under Universal Credit. 

My fellow Mum On A Mission, Vikki Waterman did just that with an unimaginable response. Not only was Labour MP and Shadow Minister (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Laura Pidcock delighted to meet our Vikki, having heard ALL about the ‘Make Childcare Work’ Campaign and our Common’s Select Committee Evidence, she has invited Vikki as her official guest back to Parliament this month to celebrate ‘The Day of the Single Parent’

We are so PROUD of our Vikki and can not wait to hear all in an update from her visit and return to the capital. 

Whilst ‘Single Parent Day’ has existed in the US since 1984 (21 March), it is only the second year it is being celebrated here in the UK following it’s launch in 2018, aimed at raising awareness of Single Parent Families in UK Politics and policy Making and Chaired by Dr Rupa Haq MP. 

The day will be hosted by an ALL Party Parliamentary Group on Single Parents and Families, with an address by none other than Carol Vorderman. 

Having written to Mike Freer MP (Finchley and Golders Green), my news is not nearly as exciting, but assured me he would pass on my letter and concerns to Secretary of State Amber Rudd’s office. Having done so, I received a letter from Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenances. Much of his reply reiterated the Government’s line and policy in respect to Universal Credit and Childcare and Flexible Support Fund being used to cover upfront Childcare costs. Which as I told Channel 5 and Sky News, ‘whilst it sounds great on paper can often differ greatly in reality - as so many of us know’. 

The final paragraph however, got really interesting. As he states. “The Department for Work and Pensions is piloting a more flexible approach to claimants reporting childcare costs, which will allow people to be reimbursed for childcare even if they are not able to provide immediate evidence. Once the pilots have concluded, it will consider whether to roll this out approach further”. 

Now is the time, if ever to get in touch with your local MPs! The wonderful and exceptionally clever team at Save the Children have made it even easier for you to do so by simply clicking the link below, filing in your contact details and pressing sent! 

Are you currently struggling with childcare through UC? Tell your MP about the issues they’re facing – link here: http://action.savethechildren.org.uk/page/38249/action/1?sourcecode=EY5032001&cid=par-_EY5032001-ukbf_001-1G23329RN&utm_campaign=ukbf_001&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=_EY5032001

If you aren’t currently struggling with childcare issues (perhaps you don’thave children, or they’re grown up now) but have signed the petition out of solidarity and want to email your MP anyway to highlight the issues other people in their constituency are facing – link here: http://action.savethechildren.org.uk/page/37564/action/1?sourcecode=EY5032002&cid=par-_EY5032002-ukbf_001-1Z72097MK&utm_campaign=ukbf_001&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=_EY5032002   

Together ‘WE CAN MAKE CHILDCARE WORK’

Thuto x

#MumOnAMission

#MakeChildCareWork

#InternationalWomensDay

#DayOfTheSingleParent

#EmailYourMP