30 extra childcare places for rural Lisburn

The charity has been awarded 173,000 through the Department's Rural Childcare Programme for a pilot scheme aimed at recruiting and supporting up to 150 new registered childminders in more than 50 rural communities throughout Northern Ireland, including Maghaberry, Moira, Ballinderry and Glenavy.

Maeve Milne, NICMA's Project Co-ordinator for the programme, says the scheme provides a valuable opportunity to help tackle the shortage of suitable childcare in many rural districts.

"We believe the project will make a significant difference in the areas which we're targeting" she said. "We know many people in rural communities find it very difficult to access quality childcare which suits their needs.

"For many parents the shortage of childcare is a real barrier to being able to take a job."

In a survey commissioned by NICMA 43% of rural parents who'd recently sought childcare said they had found it difficult or impossible, compared to 28% in urban areas. In addition to creating hundreds of childcare places, the project will also offer a comprehensive programme of professional support and training for the new childminders.

Maeve continued: "Many newly-registered childminders leave the profession within the first year and lack of business know-how is undoubtedly a factor.

"The support and training offered by this programme will equip our new recruits with the business skills and professional know-how they need to succeed. That's important because we want to create sustainable, high-quality childcare places which parents can depend on."

The charity will also be working to persuade new childminders to be flexible in their approach to the hours they're prepared to work.

"Rural parents often have to commute long distances", explained Maeve. "That means they need childcare which is available for longer than the traditional 9 – 5 day.

"To some extent, it's about encouraging childminders to be prepared to think outside the box. So, for instance, we might suggest to one childminder that they team up with a colleague to offer five longer days a week between them, if they don't want to do it individually."

The pilot scheme will be running until March 2011.

If you would like to find out more about NICMA's rural childcare project or you'd like any information on childminding, contact either Maeve Milne on 07855 144138 or NICMA on 9181 1015.