“Mothers from all over the UK have come together because enough is enough.”
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics has shown that. They are not leaving the labour market by choice; they are leaving because the system no longer works for them.
When Freya Armstrong gave birth to her little boy 16 months ago, she never expected to be trapped in a part-time job, claiming Universal Credit to supplement her single-parent income. Even through Freya would like to work more, she knows her benefits and childcare payments will stop if she increases her hours and income, leaving her unable to afford childcare while she worked. “I’m stuck in a position of having to constantly be on benefits and I don’t know how I will get out of that loop,” she said. “I’m trapped, helpless. I feel like people perceive me as lazy, a scrounger. I don’t want to be on benefits, but I don’t have an option.
“By this time, all of our bills started to increase as well,” the 38-year-old said. “First it was our electricity and gas, then water, council rates and food. We were really financially struggling. We had to go to food banks and borrow money from family.” Jessica contacted Pregnant Then Screwed to support her through workplace maternity discrimination and she has since changed jobs and is working full-time. Her daughter is in full-time nursery, but even after 30 hours of childcare funding, Jessica is still paying £600 a month for her to attend.
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