Parents Forced out of Work by Soaring Childcare Costs

19 May 2012

Rocketing childcare costs may be driving many Ashington and Morpeth parents out of work as the price of care soars by almost 5.1 per cent.

A report by the Daycare Trust found that families requiring part-time nursery care are now facing an average annual cost of over £4,500 - a staggering rise to almost double the rate of inflation.

And it is not just the cost of nursery places which has escalated, all areas of childcare have seen a dramatic increase, from childminders to out-of-school clubs.

The publication of the figures comes as many people living in the area are becoming increasingly concerned about the soaring costs of essential living expenses, including growing energy and food bills.

Many mothers now feel they have no other option than to return to work to help cover the cost of rising bills but once childcare arrangements are taken into consideration it can make the situation even more stressful for parents.

Previously mums and dads have been able to rely on support from grandparents but as many people are now having to work later in life this is not always possible for every family.

Issues surrounding childcare can spread into other areas of people's lives creating additional worries and affecting the well-being of the entire household. It can lead to other financial problems, distractions whilst at work or even preventing parents from returning to the workplace completely - creating large unemployment figures for the region.

Families who are worried about, or struggling with, increasing living costs may be eligible for additional financial support, some of which many people are unaware of.

Children aged from three to four years qualify for Government funded childcare for a minimum 12.5 hours of free learning per week for 38 weeks of the year and many families may be entitled to Working Tax Credits, while some employees now offer their employees help to pay for childcare, this can range from paying you cash to pay for childcare or paying the childcare fees directly.

Accessing financial advice sooner rather than later can not only stop problems escalating beyond control but can also prevent people from getting into unnecessary levels of debt.

Morpeth and Ashington residents concerned about financial issues can contact the Debt Advice Team at DAWN Advice for free and independent advice on 01670 785 500.