A ‘bright start’ for social enterprise

New childcare providers must operate as social enterprises if they want to receive government funding, following an announcement by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The department, which is responsible for children’s policy, published its ‘Bright Start’ framework for childcare last November. OFMDFM aims to create 4,000 childcare places although no timescale has been set out as the childcare strategy has been delayed; the final version is expected in 2014.

Funding to help set up school age childcare providers to set up will be made available from April. Most childcare facilities in Northern Ireland operate as private businesses. However, in the last two years have seen a rise in the number of providers which operate as social enterprises.

One example is Employers For Childcare Solutions, which provides job opportunities to people caring for children in the family home, day nurseries and other childcare settings. As a social enterprise, all profits are invested into the charitable activities of Employers For Childcare Charitable Group.

Through Childcare Solutions and its other social enterprise (Employers For Childcare Vouchers), it delivers a family benefits advisory service to parents and also carries out research and lobbying work.

Social enterprises are viewed as a good way of generating new income at a time when government funding for the community and voluntary sector is being cut back. National and regional governments are therefore encouraging more voluntary organisations to operate social enterprise models.

More information about Employers For Childcare Solutions is available by

calling 0800 206 1488 or emailing solutions@employersforchildcare.org