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Single Parents Week 2024: Mia’s story*

Last updated: 06/05/2024

Mia is a single parent with one 9 year old daughter. She moved to the UK in 2015 and has struggled to find childcare that pays enough to cover the cost of childcare and which fits around school hours.

This story is part of our Single Parents Week. Read more about issues we are highlighting throughout the week, leading up to celebrations for Single Parents Day on Thursday 21 March.

I thought working in a school would be a great way to work while she was at school, and I would also be off at the same time. But when the school closed for strikes, I was still expected to still go in to clean. I wouldn’t be earning enough money to cover the cost of childcare. Childcare needs to available when the schools are closed.

- Mia, Single parent

“I pay for my daughter to attend the after-school club two days a week. I kept paying to keep her place even when I wasn’t working, because I didn’t want to lose her place. It’s a constant juggle of maintaining a childcare place, while paying extra money that I could not afford. I thought I had to keep paying or I would lose her place. If I lost her place, then I would not be able to take a job as I have no one else to help me with childcare.

There have been two job interviews that I was was unable to attend as I would have had to get two buses to get there. I could not possibly fit this in and get back to the school in time to collect my daughter.

I would consider most jobs if they fit in with looking after my child. I thought working in a school would be a great way to work while she was at school, and I would also be off at the same time. But when the school closed for strikes, I was still expected to still go in to clean. I wouldn’t be earning enough money to cover the cost of childcare. Childcare needs to available when the schools are closed. The after-school club at my daughter’s school is also closed on public holidays. I was working in a hotel, and they would not understand that I needed time off on school public holidays, as I had no childcare. I was mentally and physically exhausted from working in the hotel and I had to give it up.

There have been two job interviews that I was was unable to attend as I would have had to get two buses to get there. I could not possibly fit this in and get back to the school in time to collect my daughter. I want to be able to stay in work and provide for my family. But, we need childcare services that suit the needs of parents, especially single parents that have no other help with childcare. I have qualifications in pharmacology, and I would love to complete further qualifications in this but the on-the-job training can only be full-time, working 9am until 6pm. Most pharmacies also expect you to work on Saturdays. This is difficult for single parents like me that don’t have any friends or family to rely on for childcare support. There are not childcare providers that offer weekends and evenings. There is also a lack of flexible childcare which makes it difficult if you have shift work.

Childcare providers, including after-school clubs are closing down. This makes it even more difficult to find a place for your child near their school. It’s a struggle and challenging to be a parent on your own. It takes a lot to keep your energy and enthusiasm up.

 

*a pseudonym has been used to protect the identity of the parent.

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