Childcare workers are “unsung heroines”

Reclaim the Agenda said most of the local women’s centres kept their facilities open to support medical staff and other essential workers, despite the worry and risk to themselves and their families.

The organisation pointed out that ironically, many of the childcare workers within women’s centres could be made redundant next month as they await confirmation of government funding for the sector.

These women are being celebrated as part of the International Women’s Day events in Northern Ireland this month which seeks to recognise ‘the New Phenomenal’ – those women who helped us through the pandemic and are making our communities better.

“We are nearly one year on from the start of lockdown, we want to recognise the amazing determination, selflessness and sheer hard work that our childcare workers showed during these difficult times,” said Helen Crickard from Reclaim the Agenda.

“They played a vital role helping to keep the healthcare system and other emergency services going,” she added.

Windsor Women’s Centre in Belfast is one example of a local women’s centre that made huge adjustments to ensure they could remain open when the Trust asked them to take children from key workers including healthcare staff from the Nightingale Hospital.

Julie Kinnear, deputy manager of the crèche, explained: “It was very scary at the time. Our staff worried about their own families but they are such an amazing bunch, they knew that we could help mums and dads from the hospital as well as other key workers who needed to work.”

The childcare workers at the women’s centres are facing an uncertain future as they await news of Government funding.

Julie added: “None of us know if we will have a job. It’s as simple as that. Every year we wait and hope that the funding will come through but there’s never a guarantee and it’s always such short notice. We’re fortunate as our centre has enough to cover our wages for an extra month so we have jobs until April and just hope that we hear something before then. It’s very stressful.”

Aoife Hamilton, head of Charity Services at Employers For Childcare added: “When most people were ‘staying home to stay safe’ many within our childcare workforce, which is predominantly female, were opening their homes and their businesses to provide childcare to key workers and vulnerable children - supporting those who needed it most.”

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