The summer holidays are meant to be a time of rest and relaxation but for single father Daniel, the extended break means forking out hundreds of pounds in childcare fees that he cannot afford.
He’s been able to book off two weeks from his job at Asda to look after his three-year-old son but when that ends this week he’s facing a £55 daily fee for nursery. “I earn around £50 my shifts – so I would basically be working for free, or working worse off,” he told The Independent.
The newly single father, who is based near Dudley in the West Midlands, has taken out a loan of £600 to cover some of the nursery fees. But he is worried about how he will pay it back.
Recent research from childcare charity Coram found that parents are spending more than £1,000 per child on average for school summer holiday care – a rise of 6 per cent on last year. The average cost of a place at a holiday club in the UK is now approximately £175 per week – 2.5 times higher than the cost of an after-school club during term time.
Daniel, 32, works at the supermarket on Fridays and Sundays, and gets some overtime work on Tuesdays, and he is keen to keep himself in employment. He cycles an hour to and from work because the Asda store closest to him has no work available, but he’s worried that he could be penalised by the company or by the benefits system if he can’t find childcare for his son.
“I’m worried about having to explain this to my work coach and I’m worried they will penalise me. I’m also worried about being sanctioned if I lose my job, because if I lose my job then I’d lose my benefits.” He said he is struggling to sleep and feeling low due to the mounting pressure of childcare costs.
Denne historien er fra August 04, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 04, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
No title until Reds become road warriors, warns Slot
Liverpool boss says team must match away form of rivals
United stuck in 'purgatory' and facing only one way out
When one prominent football figure caught a glimpse of the Manchester United dressing room recently, they immediately recognised a scene they had seen from rival clubs. That was a squad that \"doesn't know what next\" and feels like it's \"going nowhere\". It isn't intentional, of course, but is a feeling that starts to grip a group when there's no sense of clarity.
Fifa transfer rules 'contrary to EU law', Diarra case finds
Fifa will have to update key paragraphs of its transfer rules to ensure punishment of players for breaking contracts is less draconian, after a European Court of Justice ruling on the Lassana Diarra case.
Marital rape is not rape, argues Indian government
The Indian government has opposed calls to classify consensual sexual acts committed by a husband against his wife as \"rape\", saying that to do so could have an impact on conjugal relationships and disturb the institution of marriage.
Screaming statue tribute to doctor raped and killed in India causes controversy
A bust installed outside a state-run hospital in India where a resident doctor was raped and killed has sparked anger and shock as it depicts a woman screaming in agony, her head thrown back and eyes wide open.
Haitian gang shoots at least 70 people in town rampage
Gang members brandishing automatic rifles have stormed through a town in Haiti's main breadbasket region, killing at least 70 people and forcing another 3,000 to flee.
Beirut hit again by Israel as Iran vows not to back down
Israeli military claims strikes targeted new Hezbollah leaders
Police officers win appeal in athlete stop and search case
Two former Metropolitan Police officers have been handed their jobs back after winning an appeal against a ruling that they had lied about a stop and search incident involving British athlete Bianca Williams.
Royal Navy chief apologises for submarine service abuse
The head of the Royal Navy has apologised after an investigation found \"misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours\" in the submarine service.
Women say gender equality in the workplace has stalled
Gender equality in the workplace has stalled as women report experiencing many of the same challenges as they did nearly 30 years ago, a new survey of high-flyers suggests.