Published in the Guardian – Childcare costs and how a little help can make a big difference to working parents

Exciting news!

I had an article published on the Guardian on the cost of childcare and how help would make a great difference to working parents.

A bit of context

Many years ago I completed a Freelance Journalism course with the London School of Journalism. Part of the course and assignments was to complete an article and have it published.

So I did it, I had my first ever article published in a major national news media, the Guardian and I am very pleased.

The article was commissioned by the Guardian and it was published in the Guardian Housing Network. 

Childcare costs – a little help can make a great difference

In particular from institutions and providers of social housing. I used to work in housing and as my sector at the time, I could see a role landlords could play to faciliate childcare to enable parents to work more.

The article focuses on the barriers to employment and how a little help can change things significantly and enable more parents to work.

The article makes the case for social landlords to take a role in facilitating childcare as key to removing a significant barrier to work for parents, especially mothers.

Receiving the commission itself was exciting and at first I felt the pressure that I had to find the material and do a good job at writing.

Then I had to source the material and thanks to great contributions from housing providers part of the sector I used to work in at the time.

I spoke to New Charter operating in the Manchester area.

To Peabody in London, and Family Mosaic in London and the South East.

I also spoke to childcare providers operating in Birmingham, pressure groups and mothers for whom access to affordable childcare is key to be able to work.

As to the writing, that was the more stressful part, juggling between facts about unemployment, single mothers in social housing, the lack of affordable childcare in this country, Nick Clegg’s recent announcements and commentary, quotes and examples from landlords.

The training from my London School of Journalism course was pretty useful to structure my thoughts and also my tutor’s comments.

And above all, my husband’s great editing and his analytical skills which came in handy to structure the headings better and allow me to find a thread for the story.

The end result was published on Monday 7 April 2014.

http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/apr/07/affordable-childcare-encourage-parents-work-housing-providers

So all in all, a great team effort with contributions from many people, some mentioned in the piece some behind the scenes.

And as a result, a published story that invites landlords to do more to help their communities improve their lives and those of their children. Something I am pleased I have played a role, in being discussed and accepted more.