Responding to the Government’s announcement of an extra £300m funding for childcare support in Universal Credit, a group of leading poverty and family organisations issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement of an extra £300m for help with childcare shows that the Government has listened to the concerns of parents across the country who are struggling with rising childcare costs.  Offering childcare support to an additional 80,000 families will help parents to move in to work, which is the best way for them to lift their families out of poverty.  Adequate help with childcare is fundamental to the success of the Government’s welfare reforms, and Ministers’ willingness to change their proposals in the face of strong evidence is to be welcomed.

Statement signed by:

Anand Shukla, Chief Executive, Daycare Trust

Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive, Save the Children UK

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group

Fiona Weir, Chief Executive, Gingerbread

Anne Longfield, Chief Executive, 4Children

Helen Dent CBE, Chief Executive, Family Action

Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive, Working Families

Megan Pacey, Chief Executive, Early Education

Anna Bird, Acting Chief Executive, The Fawcett Society

Rebecca Gill, Director of Policy, Campaigns & Communications, Platform 51