Awards recognising vital role played by our childminders
IT is gut-wrenching leaving your children with a 'stranger' for the first time.
But if you’re lucky to find someone you trust to look after your beloved little ones while you go off to work, in time they lose their stranger status, and hopefully become a friend.
Good childminders are priceless and in recognition of the sterling work they do, Cow & Gate have recently announced their 2007 Childminder of the Year Awards.
The award promotes prestige childcare and supports the work of the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA), and now parents from all over Northern Ireland can nominate their own childminder in praise of the unsung heroines.
There are currently 4,300 registered childminders in Northern Ireland who provide daily care for more than 20,000 children aged from infancy up to 12.
Registered NICMA childminders provide the children with a safe, stimulating, loving and caring environment, providing play, learning activities and experiences to support and stimulate the children’s development.
They aim to give priority to the children’s well-being and stretch to meet parents’ needs.
Much of the work of this caring profession goes unheralded and Cow & Gate Award aims to reassure them they are “worth their weight in gold” to parents.
Alison Hanna, Cow & Gate Territory Manager, said registered childminders “become an extension of the family, caring for parents’ most precious possessions during the vital stages of early life”.
“NICMA’s registered childminders provide quality childcare to families all over Northern Ireland, making it possible for many parents to go to work each day, happy in the knowledge that their children are being looked after in a loving and caring atmosphere.”
Bridget Nodder, Director of NICMA, said that in its 23-year history, NICMA has worked vigorously to promote quality home-based childcare as a professional daycare service that supports a child’s learning and development.
“NICMA helps and encourages members to attain the highest standards and we are delighted that Cow & Gate support us in our work through this award.
“Childminding is the most affordable and most popular full-time daycare option for working families in Northern Ireland but unfortunately there is a serious shortage of registered childminders here.
“The lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is preventing a large proportion of parents in Northern Ireland from seeking work and the problem is getting worse,” she added.
“The service we supply is vital to families who, without the support of a childminder, would find it difficult to manage both their work and home responsibilities.”
Last year’s winner was Karen Brown from Ballymoney.
This year it could be your childminder who lifts the winner’s trophy and cheque for 500.
Five runners-up will each receive 50 each along with a trophy, and the nominator of the winner will receive a 100 thank-you from Cow & Gate.
n Nomination forms are available from NICMA, tel 028 9181 1015 or from Duffy Rafferty Communications, tel 028 9073 0880 or by emailing Naomi@duffyrafferty.com.
The closing date for receipt of the completed forms is Friday, October 19 2007 and the finals of the award will take place in November.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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