This report draws on findings from focus groups held across the country and a Survation survey for Young Women’s Trust of UK mums aged 18 to 30. It found:
- More than 3 in 4 of young mums (78%) said a lack of flexible and affordable childcare was a barrier to finding employment
- 57% were unable to take up employment because of a lack of suitable childcare options
- 1 in 3 young mums was forced to leave a job because she could not afford childcare and more than half of those polled said they would work more hours if they could find flexible childcare at an affordable price
- Two thirds of employed young mums are struggling or just about managing financially, rising to 82% of those who are not working because they cannot afford childcare
- 1 in 4 working mums skip meals every day to make ends meet. Half of working mums are skipping meals at least once a week to provide for their children – rising to 64% among those on Universal Credit
I think childcare is expensive generally. But I think if you’re a single parent with only one income, that’s all of your income. And then there’s parents who are much older, married, with two incomes and they still can’t afford childcare.
A young woman, London
