The Melted Parents NI group that has attracted so much attention by sharing stories of parents with childcare cost struggles has set out short and long term goals to tackle the crisis.
Initially started as a way of giving a voice to parents, the group has now expanded its aims to include facilitating real change in Northern Ireland's childcare system alongside that first goal.
They recently ran a survey which received over 2,000 responses about the crisis.
Read more: Meet the 'Melted Parents' behind popular NI Instagram account
Becca Harper is one of the founding members of Melted Parents NI and said they had worked hard on setting out clear goals for the short and long term.
Currently Northern Ireland is not in line with other regions in the UK, where 30 hours of childcare per week are covered by government.
"We quickly realised that if we wanted to create and real change that we needed to turn from that main aim of sharing those stories to still sharing them but also having those politicised demands," she said.
"It's all well and good having those stories but if nothing changes out of them, then it's not helping solve the issue.
"We worked with a political consultant, Anna Mercer, as while we knew what we wanted as parents, we're not skilled politicians, we hadn't written a political briefing before.
"So that political consultant was able to help us implement our strategy into that format and we've sent that to all political parties in Northern Ireland and they are engaging with us.
"We're attending the all-party group for early education and childcare in a few weeks, so that's us moving in from 'we've had enough' to 'here's what we want' kind of territory."
Melted Parents NI has set the following short term goals:
- Remove cap for government contribution to tax-free childcare accounts.
- Extend the tax relief on the childcare account from 20% to 30%.
- A cost of living-style payment that will help families stay afloat while we wait for a proper childcare strategy.
Their long term aims are as follows:
- Put parents at the centre of designing a new childcare system: we want all parties to agree that parents need to be a central voice in the childcare discussions and consulted with as childcare provision evolves.
- Establish a sustainable childcare system: we are asking that parties commit to the development and publication of a childcare strategy within the first month of office, accompanied by a timeline for delivery.
- Honour Barnett formula allocations: the funds that Stormont receives for childcare and early learning provisions for the children of working parents through the Barnett formula should be allocated to the provision of childcare and related services accordingly.
She added that they are working on getting a case put together to show that the economy as a whole is damaged when parents feel they can no longer afford to work and look after their children and leave the workforce.
"We have a survey running and over 2,000 parents have responded so far - over a third of parents are telling us that they're going to have to change or leave their employment in the next 12 months because of childcare costs and another third have said they're undecided, but it's a consideration," she said.
"So that's two third of the workforce that are using childcare that are either doing it or considering doing it in the next 12 months.
"We can't afford to wait for a childcare strategy, not just as families but as an economy.
"More skilled people will leave the workforce and that has a ripple effect."
The group has continued to engage with local political representatives while government remains at an impasse.
"It was about setting those short term impactful goals because parents need help today, saying that an Executive is coming and a childcare strategy is coming is all well and good, because that will help parents then," Becca said.
"We're well aware of the limitations we face as a campaign group right now with Stormont down.
"But we feel that by working with Westminster and with our devolved government even when it's down, because we just can't afford to wait.
"There has been a precedent set with the cost-of-living payments paid to NI citizens without an Executive sitting, things can be done.
"Obviously they have to be legal and appropriate but I absolutely do think that change is achievable."
READ NEXT:
- Northern Irish mums open up on their battle to meet childcare costs while working
- Family highlights childcare costs with £40k bill calculation
- Kate Nicholl: No quick fix for childcare situation in NI but bravery needed for overhaul
- Derry woman speaks out on childcare cost barriers
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
