This briefing outlines the barriers parents who are preparing for work can experience when trying to access childcare in England, using evidence from CPAG’s project work.
Potential second earners in couple families, usually mothers, face high barriers to employment. Mothers typically face more barriers to work than fathers in couples, particularly because of issues relating to childcare and time spent out of the labour market due to caring responsibilities. To evaluate barriers to work faced by this group and identify solutions to these barriers, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) designed and delivered the Your Work Your Way project – an employment support scheme that worked with 70 potential second earners in couples.
Secure Futures for Children and Families; Universal credit, digitalisation and the rule of law; and Your Work Your Way - CPAG's current project work in England and Wales.
Our innovative employment support programme helped potential second earners from low-income families overcome barriers to get into and progress in work.