12:13pm Thursday 12th April 2012
A LOCAL enterprise group in Bishop’s Castle is trying to help with the childcare needs of parents in the area.
“Parents of young children and parents with irregular need for childcare in rural south-west Shropshire have a real problem,” said Peter Phillips, acting chairman of Enterprise South West Shropshire (ESWS). “Local registered childcare is virtually non-existent.”
Now the group has drafted a campaign that it hopes to launch in the summer.
“As the mother of a child under three, I’m acutely aware of the difficulties,”
said Coun Charlotte Barnes, who represents Bishop’s Castle on Shropshire Council.
“This is very much an economic development issue so that parents can go out to work, and, of course child-minding is itself a worthwhile job.
“Many people think that becoming a child minder has become very difficult, this is not the case and the ESWS staff will be able to help smooth the way.”
The proposal to help improve child-minding has the backing of the Board of Enterprise South West Shropshire.
“It has been a top issue for a long time,” said company manager Mike Ashwell.
“This is looking very positive.
Enterprise House is recognised as a friendly place and our staff will be trained to help prospective child-minders along the path and facilitate customers.
“We work with Shropshire Council on many issues and this is a good example of an area where we can use our local expertise to get things moving.”
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