The childcare sector is in crisis. Lack of affordable childcare, combined with low pay for childcare workers, is a major cause of poverty and inequality. Childcare in London is 30% more expensive than the rest of the country. Many families and settings in the most deprived parts of London are at breaking point. We need to increase awareness of the systemic causes of this situation, build a stronger voice for parents and better work for childcare workers.
Running from 2023 -2024, Grow Your Own is sharing past experiences of organising for better childcare with people working to improve the situation we face today. We are engaging directly with past and present childcare campaigners from across London to co-produce a set of resources including a podcast series, campaigners' toolkit, a 'stay and play' resource and a digital map of childcare campaigns and projects. We will collate a body of information that can be disseminated to wider audiences and will provide skills to volunteers to use in their campaigning work.
Children at Dalston Children's Centre. Photograph Copyright Rio Archive.
