84% of UK parents believe that society still sees childcare as a “woman’s job” – a factor that many believe is a key contributor to the gender pay gap.
Ahead of Father’s Day this weekend, research carried out by
bubble babysitting app, found that 67% of parents also believed Men and Fathers are potentially being held back from taking on more childcare responsibilities, because of the stigma that still surrounds it.
There’s only been a 2% take up for shared parental leave in the UK*, and even in countries like Denmark – where paternity leave is often at full pay – only 10% of parental leave is taken by dads.
82% of parents surveyed by bubble still believe the stigma exists, however the recent growth of male babysitters signing up to bubble offers hope of a changing tide. The app has seen a 122% increase in the number of male babysitters signing up to its platform in the last 12 months, and a 107% increase of bookings for “Mannies”.
Mikey Smith (above), a music entrepreneur, former council outreach worker and sitter on bubble said: “I love working in this field because I know I’m making a difference. Being able to help families and having that responsibility entrusted to me is a feeling unmatched.
“I get to represent me as a professional, a man and especially a black man where we aren’t always portrayed in a positive light via the media and other channels. It also gives the younger generation of boys growing up a different career path that they may have never considered beforehand.
“I personally felt the stigma at the beginning but not so much anymore, because of the years I’ve now dedicated to this and the opportunities I’ve been given by so many parents I’ve worked with.”
Father-of-3 and bubble co founder, Ari Last, said: “We love seeing amazing male sitters do amazing work on bubble – teaching the kids they care for from an early age that childcare isn’t just “a women’s job”.
“Smashing the stigma around men in childcare will help more fathers take advantage of parental leave and encourage more of their employers to not just facilitate it but demand it. It’ll make it easier for mums who want to, to return to and excel at work, and play a pivotal role in shrinking the gender pay gap.”
Interested in a job in Childcare?
The Childcare Academy could be for you:
THE CHILDCARE ACADEMY IS AN EMPLOYABILITY FUND STAGE 3 PROGRAMME WHICH WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
· Undertake free training requiring attendance of up to 30 hours weekly within a safe, friendly environment
· Gain significant experience of working with children by undertaking a quality supported work experience placement within an early years care and education setting or an out of school care setting
· Gain 2 Accredited SQA Units from the Social Services (Children and Young People) SVQ Level 2 Award
· Gain employment in the childcare sector
· Access a Young Persons Allowance of £55 per week for eligible 16 to 18 year olds (for a max of 26 weeks)
· Progression onto our Modern Apprenticeship programme to gain the SVQ Level 3 Social Services Children and Young People Award.
Our next Childcare Academy starts on MONDAY 2nd September 2019
Why not come along to our Childcare Academy information session? This will last approx. 1 hour and will give you the opportunity to find out what is involved in our Academy programme, ask any questions and take away an application pack.
· Thursday 20th June @1pm
· Wednesday 17th July @10am
· Wednesday 31st July @1pm
· Tuesday 13th August @10am
· Wednesday 21st August @1pm
· Monday 26th August @10am
If you would like to find out more, please contact Audrey O’Neill (our Communications & Compliance Officer) on 0131 311 6931 or e-mail audrey.oneill@northedinburghchildcare.co.uk
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