Employers For Childcare

Services

Childcare Vouchers

Employers For Childcare administers Childcare Vouchers on behalf of employers to help their employees to save money on their childcare costs. While Childcare Vouchers closed to new entrants in 2018, those parents who were already using the scheme can continue to do so, while they remain eligible. Employers can choose to switch their Childcare Vouchers to Employers For Childcare to benefit from our competitive administration rates, excellent customer service and the opportunity to ‘buy social’. 100% of the profits from this service are invested in the work of our charity.

Family Benefits Advice Service

Our charity’s Family Benefits Advice Service operates a helpline to support parents, employers and childcare providers. We provide free, impartial and confidential advice on a wide range of childcare and work-related issues and can support parents to make sure they are receiving all the financial support they are entitled to by carrying out personalised ‘better off’ calculations for them. The team can also facilitate advice and guidance sessions organised through employers, childcare providers, charities and other groups such as Sure Starts. Contact the Family Benefits Advice Service on 028 9267 8200 or email [email protected].

Research

Employers For Childcare carries out research into childcare issues including the major Northern Ireland Childcare Survey which is the most comprehensive survey of the childcare sector in Northern Ireland, informing policy-makers and elected representatives on the childcare issues facing families and childcare providers.

Policy and lobbying

Employers For Childcare lobbies Government at all levels on childcare and work-related issues to ensure the voices of parents, childcare providers and employers are heard when policy decisions are being made. We engage with policy-makers and elected representatives at local government level, within the Northern Ireland Assembly and at Westminster. We provide the Secretariat for the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare at the Northern Ireland Assembly and are currently working on behalf of parents and childcare providers to secure a new Early Learning and Childcare Strategy for Northern Ireland.

High Rise

High Rise indoor adventure centre is our newest Social Enterprise business, based in Lisburn. It has been designed to be inclusive and accessible for those with additional needs and features two state of the art Sensory Rooms in addition to Northern Ireland’s largest Clip ‘n Climb indoor climbing arena, a soft play area, café and meeting and party rooms. High Rise also includes a Changing Places accessible toilet. 100% of the profits from High Rise are invested in the work of our charity.