Barnardos to develop 21st century childcare service

September 29, 2014

Media release: for immediate release

Barnardos KidStart Childcare to develop 21st century childcare service

Barnardos, through support from the Akina Foundation, is to develop a high quality flexible childcare service to assist parents to enter and stay in the workforce.

The new childcare model will be developed through the Akina Foundation’s inaugural Contact Launchpad by the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) in partnership with Barnardos KidStart Childcare. Countdown supermarkets, a SBC member, will be the pilot company for the project.

“Access to quality childcare out of normal business hours is a barrier for many wanting to enter and stay in the workforce”, says Barnardos Chief Executive Jeff Sanders.

“More than one fifth of mothers (and a quarter of sole parents) who work, or want to work, cite difficulties getting childcare that is available at the times they need it, and at a cost they can afford.[i]

“This new service, through Barnardos KidStart Childcare, will offer high quality child care and education that is responsive to families’ needs, offering flexibility in hours, and is aligned with job locations, transport and community services.

“We are delighted to have been selected to develop this new approach, which we believe will not only meet a strong social need, but will have universal appeal for all parents needing a flexible service.

“This model would fill a gap for working parents who have to cobble together childcare solutions for children up to the age of 14 years from a range of disconnected services, enabling them to enter and stay in the workforce.”

Barnardos New Zealand has been providing early childhood and social services for over 40 years in New Zealand. It is one of the largest providers of children’s services.

Barnardos KidStart Childcare provides affordable high quality, centre-based and home-based education and care services, for around 3,500 children from Auckland to Invercargill.

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