Childminding coronavirus support

Monday July 20th 2020

Scottish Parliament

Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Kirstie Topp

A support fund has been established for childminders experiencing financial strain due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) launched the Childminding Workforce Support Fund last Thursday in partnership with the Scottish Government.

It will provide small grant funds of up to £350, available to registered childminders who meet the eligibility criteria.

SCMA has released £30,000 from its reserves, with the Scottish Government matching this, to create a total available Childminding Workforce Support Fund of £60,000.

While a number of childminding settings remained open to provide critical childcare for key workers and vulnerable children, many childminding settings across Scotland had to temporarily close.

Chief Executive of the Scottish Childminding Association, Graeme McAlister, said: “We recognise that this will not solve every financial concern but we sincerely hope that the availability of a small grant from our Workforce Support Fund will help to alleviate some of the immediate pressure some professional childminders are experiencing.

“In particular, it is aimed at those childminders who have not been eligible for other sources of funding and also those whose businesses may take some time to recover their normal operating model. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for providing match funding in order to increase and maximise the value of this Fund.

“We are committed to doing all that we can to ensure childminding business remain financially viable, both now and in the future, and to strengthen the childminding workforce in the long-term.”

The Minster for Children and Young People, Maree Todd MSP, added: “I am very grateful to the many childminders who have continued to deliver critical childcare to the children of key workers and vulnerable children. This has been an invaluable source of support to these families.

“Childminders will also have a vital role to play, along with the rest of the childcare sector, in supporting economic recovery and enabling more parents and carers to either return to work, or to increase their hours.

“The Scottish Government welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with the SCMA on the establishment of the Workforce Support Fund, and I hope that it can provide some support to childminders facing challenging financial circumstances.”

For further information on eligibility and how to apply visit www.childminding.org/covid-19/workforce-fund.

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