Claudy childminder recruitment drive

NICMA is inviting anyone in four Londonderry communities who has an interest in a childminding career to attend an information session which will be held on the 14th April in Claudy.

NICMA is attempting to recruit up to 150 new childminders in more than 50 rural communities throughout Northern Ireland, backed by funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Childcare programme.

Claudy, Maydown, Greysteel and Ballykelly have been identified as the communities where there is a particular shortage of childminders at the moment.

NICMA’s Director Bridget Nodder encourages anyone who has an interest in childminding to drop in between 10.30am and 1pm on Wednesday, April 14, at the Diamond Centre, 630 Barnailt Road in Claudy. Experts will be on hand to give out useful and practical advice.

She said: “The evidence we have is that many parents in these areas are having difficulty accessing suitable, high quality and affordable childcare at the moment.”

NICMA is aiming to recruit an additional 10 registered childminders in these communities which could result in the establishment of up to 40 additional childcare places.

Mrs Nodder and indeed the whole of NICMA wish to encourage anyone who has an interest in childminding to drop in between 10.30am and 1pm on Wednesday, 14th April at the Diamond Centre, 630 Barnailt Road in Claudy. Experts will be on hand to give out useful and practical advice on becoming a childminder, the registration process and tax and benfit issues.