I feel tremendously proud to have been a part of this today. Sadly not all of the Mayoral Candidates came, but to the two who did, thank you, and to the one who listened, don’t forget us. Andy Burnham #debt #poverty #community #SupportingOurCommunity

To paraphrase, the Executive needs to govern, and govern well. A good start would be an agreed Programme for Government with clear priorities and plans, with the Opposition and Committees providing appropriate levels of scrutiny. Let’s see this Assembly make a real difference.

Our statement on the sad death of Frank Field:

Frank was a steadfast, highly successful and diligent campaigner against child poverty. It is largely down to Frank that we have child benefit today – a truly towering achievement.

This quote shows the importance of the welfare state from the perspective of a working class girl - it’s about value ARK

Hadeel was taken away from her two children, one of whom she was still #breastfeeding , and beaten & tortured for over 80 days.

This The New Statesman piece by Anoosh Chakelian covers work NEF is undertaking to explore alternative approaches to harsh & prescriptive benefits conditionality

Here's what we've found so far & why this issue is critical for any government serious about improving employment outcomes...🧵

Listen again to the brilliant Andy from Cliff Edge Coalition NI talk about the need to remove the two-child limit on On Your Behalf #remove2child

Couldn't be more timely to have an evidence based discussion on tackling child poverty.
Join us tomorrow at the NIAPN AGM with guest speaker Fiona McHardy from Poverty Alliance
Register: NIAPN2024AGM.eventbrite.co.uk

.Housing Executive Ulster University research shows rents continued to rapidly increase across NI in 2023: 'rents across Northern Ireland increased by 3.9% over the half year to £849 per month; appreciably up by 9.1% compared to the same period last year' (p2) 1/4

Childcare cost protesters tell Executive 'enough is enough' MeltedParentsNI

belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-n…

That’s a wrap on the #MarchForChildcare ✊🏽! We are so humbled by the turnout - Power to the parents!! ✊🏽✊🏽

Reclaim the Agenda

Sorry I can’t make the March today (due to my own kiddos Sat commitments) but lots of our members are going and we could not be more supportive of the need for immediate actions as well as long term planning. Childcare was declared a ‘day one priority’ yet here we are ⏰

Thank you to all the marchers today MeltedParentsNI (an impending arrival has me staying close to home!).

Piece from this morning's The Irish News.

Warm words aren't enough. We've been waiting long enough - 25 years!

🚨🗣CHILDCARE: 'Send help now'

📍Around 1000 people marched on the streets of Belfast demanding an 'urgent intervention from the Executive.'

Our Political Reporter James has this report from the City Centre.

It was organised by MeltedParentsNI & supported by others.

Solidarity with all those marching with MeltedParentsNI today.

The situation in NI cannot continue.

A sea of buggies, some strong placard slogans & hundreds of parents and children demanding urgent childcare reform! We stand with them - their fees are eye watering ‼️ MeltedParentsNI

massive shout out to all the MeltedParentsNI protesting today. £1000 a month for three and a half days at nursery. a joke.

Rates of child poverty have risen from 18% to 24% in the last year.

We simply cannot afford not to invest in children who will be responsible for the society and economy of the future.

You can read our briefing on the two-child limit here.

lawcentreni.org/wp-content/upl…

We will be there tomorrow to support our parents & the childcare sector.
#EnoughIsEnough #meltedparents
#childcarereform

We’re at the MeltedParentsNI #MarchForChildcare in Belfast today! Childcare costs are pushing families into #poverty and taking parents out of the workforce - it’s time for change! ✊