The Women’s Equality Party has started an online campaign, calling parents to take action against the government. The official website reads: “Parents and nurseries are at breaking point. The Government’s abandonment of working families and childcare providers is putting women’s employment at risk and could set gender equality back a generation. Seven out of 10 working mums have been denied time off to look after their children. Nearly half of mums made redundant during Covid blame the lack of childcare. Fifty percent of childcare providers face closure this year. Find out more about our suggested five measures to keep childcare and parents afloat and help stop the spread of the virus in our open letter to Gavin Williamson. Our Government needs to be schooled on the impossible realities of Covid childcare, and we need you to help make that happen.” The forum has asked people to take action by recording a short film, or drawing a picture to educate the Government on the realities of care during Covid. You don’t need to be a parent - to take part all you need is the determination to fight for the women who are struggling to make it through this crisis. Giving some ideas to parents, the group shared a couple of topics that parents can touch upon. Some of them are: 'If mums spend 12 hours caring for young children, 6 hours teaching older kids, and 8 hours working every day, how much time does that leave for sleep?' 'If a parent has 28 days annual leave, and schools are closed for 92 days this year, how soon are they going to lose their job without your help?' 'Five year olds don’t nap from 9 - 5' 'If I'm not paid a living wage, and I catch Covid, how quickly do you think I’ll need a food bank?' 'If funding cuts close 75% of nurseries, how much do you think you’ll be spending on unemployment benefits for child care workers and parents?' The online rally is at 2.45 pm on Saturday 30th January.
