Childcare Voices

The term au pair means 'on equal terms.' Raquel Camarasa asks, how often is that really the case, really, for young migrant women who come to live with families as au pairs today? First Raquel hears about the Ayahs home in Hackney. The home provided accommodation for Indian Ayahs and Chinese Amahs, who were nannies that cared for the children of British colonial families on the long voyages between India and China and Britain. Raquel shares her own experiences as an au pair, both positive and negative, and speaks to people working as au pairs in London now. Why, they ask, is this form of childcare not regulated? Why are there few protections for au pairs? Check out the Nanny Solidarity Network: https://nannysolidaritynetwork.co.uk/ and the IWGB Nanny and Au Pair Union Branch - https://iwgb.org.uk/en/page/nannies-and-au-pairs/ This episode contains: * An interview with Niti Acharya from Hackney Museum recorded by Rosa Schling and Veronica Deutsch for On the Record * Interviews with Aleja, and Lily and Inma recorded by Raquel Camarasa CREDITS: Episode produced by Raquel Camarasa Artwork by Eva Freeman Sound design by Hannah Kemp Welch Image caption: Ayah takes Grace and Paul Friesen, brother and sister to John, for a walk in the go-cart. India, M.P. Citation: Mennonite Board of Missions Photograph Collection. India MP, 1951-1963. IV-10-7.2. Box 4, Folder 24, Photo #23. Mennonite Church Archives. Elkhart, Indiana.This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

In episode 7 of Childcare Voices, Aga asks 'Who Cares for the Youths?' and looks at what kind of 'childcare' is needed when children are older. Aga is mum to two active teenage boys, who love trips and baking, but she says it is hard to find creative activities for them to do, especially during the school holidays.Aga finds that youth services have suffered devastating cuts in the last decade. She wishes young people could have opportunities to go away on trips, gain new experiences and play together. She looks to the past to see how people organised on a grassroots level to provide opportunities for their children and young people, and talks about community organising in the London borough of Hackney today.Aga is part of Red Roots Incubator, a community interest company - https://www.redrootsincubator.org/ Follow them on Instagram @redrootsincubator and X @RRIncubatorThis episode contains:* Interview with Kevin Jenkins, recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project* Interview with Empress and Kwame, recorded by Agnieszka RolkiewiczCREDITS:Episode produced by Agnieszka RolkiewiczEpisode image by John BlowerArtwork by Eva FreemanSound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

In this episode, Mona Adam wants to know more about what it is like to work in nurseries. As a councillor in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea she has visited nurseries and enjoyed spending time with the staff and children there. While the nurseries seemed like happy places, she wonders if there are hidden challenges she is unaware of in this demanding, but essential, job?Mona investigates the situation for childcare workers both today and in the past, discovering that childcare is underfunded and suffering from a shortage of trained staff. Despite the government's plans to extend the existing childcare subsidy, does the existing system have the capacity to deal with such an expansion?This episode contains:* Interview with Jenny Williams, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record project* Interview with Helen Penn, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record projectCREDITS:Episode produced by Mona AdamArtwork by Eva FreemanSound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London.Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

In this episode, Imran Bukenya, stay-at-home dad and community organiser with Together in Unity, talks about what it means to have ‘no recourse to public funds’ and need childcare. Imran asks if previous generations of migrants to the UK faced the same challenges?He investigates the archives to find out how people campaigned to create childcare accessible to all in the past, and calls on the government to include all families in the childcare support currently available.You can sign a petition calling for all parents to have access to childcare here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/let-all-parents-access-free-childcare?utm_medium=social+utm_source=twitter This episode contains:* Interview with Shirley Peters, recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project* Interview with Jenny Williams, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record projectImage of First Neighbourhood Co-operative Nursery, courtesy of Norma Dudley, Doing it Ourselves archive / Bishopsgate Institute.CREDITS:Episode produced by Imran BukenyaArtwork by Eva FreemanSound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London.Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

In this episode, Adeola Osunbade looks at the isolation faced by families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Adeola is a mum to three including a young person with special abilities and runs a hub in Newham, East London, called 'Space for Me' for families, children and young people with special needs and disabilities.Lack of suitable childcare meant Adeola had to change her career, and she knows she is not alone in this. There is not enough high-quality, accessible childcare for children with SEND, who are often turned away from mainstream childcare options. She investigates what isolation means for families like hers, and how families have tried to tackle these issues in the past.Follow Space4Me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/space4me_uk/ and The 5es on twitter / X https://twitter.com/the5es4 or facebook https://www.facebook.com/The5es4/Find out more about Ambition Achieve Aspire whose founder, Kevin Jenkins, is featured in this episode: https://www.theaaazone.com/This episode contains:* Interview with Judith Marchant recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project.* Interview with Kevin Jenkins recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project.* Interview with members of Newham Parent's Forum, recorded by Adeola OsunbadeCREDITS:Episode produced by Adeola OsunbadeArtwork by Eva FreemanSound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London.Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

Can you be a working mum and breastfeed?In this episode, mum and breastfeding peer supporter Genova, investigates how breastfeeding parents have negotiated their return to work. She delves into the archives to find out what breastfeeding was like in the 1950s. She speaks to campaigners and experts to find out what rights parents returning to work have today.You can sign a petition to create new rights to paid breastfeeding breaks for mothers here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636160Follow Genova on Instagram - @yum.mumma or visit her website https://www.yummumma.com/ Find out more about the issue:From the Breastfeeding Network https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/From Maternity Action https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/continuing-to-breastfeed-when-you-return-to-work/This episode contains:* Interviews with Joy Hastings, Vice Chair of The Breastfeeding Network and Laura Eggleton, recorded by Genova Messiah.* Interviews with Judith Marchant and Margaret Peck recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project.* Research conducted at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives.CREDITS:Episode produced by Genova MessiahArtwork by Eva FreemanSound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London.Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

How are single parents affected by the lack of affordable childcare? In this episode Ruth Talbot, single parent to 3 children and founder of the campaign group Single Parent Rights, explores the history of the issues she faces. Has anything changed for single parents in the last six decades? How will the planned changes to Universal Credit for single parents announced in the 2023 Spring Budget impact single parents? What needs to change to ensure single parent families are able to thrive? Find out more at https://www.singleparentrights.org/ Sign the petition against increasing the work requirement for single parents on Universal Credit here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635441 This episode contains: an interview with Mary-Ann Stephenson, the Director of the Women's Budget Group, recorded by Ruth Talbot,an interview with Norma Dudley, recorded by Eva Turner and Rosa Schling for Doing it Ourselves, an On the Record project. CREDITS: Episode produced by Ruth Talbot Series artwork by Eva Freeman Episode artwork by Ruth TalbotSound design by Hannah Kemp Welch This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

In this episode, Eva, a single mum, artist and designer talks about stay and plays. Stay and Plays are often volunteer-run groups, found in church halls. They are places people looking after very young babies and children can go, to play with others, have a cup of tea and a chat, and maybe even make friends. An experienced play facilitator herself, Eva first discovered the value of stay and plays when she was a new parent. They were, she says, life saving and gave her a community that has lasted. If they are so vital, why then does no one talk about them?Eva goes on a mission to investigate why stay and plays are so devalued. During the pandemic stay and plays were the first to close and the last to open. She finds out about the history of Hackney Playbus which turned 50 years old in 2022. The playbus was one of the places she bought her own son when he was small, and talks to parents using stay and plays now. She asks, are the needs of families and children at the heart of conversations around childcare now?This episode contains:an interview with Pauline Weinstein, interviewed by Craig Fees in 1996, reproduced with permission from the Planned Environment Therapy Archives and Special Collections (https://archives.mulberrybush.org.uk/records/TCVOICES/173)an interview with Claire Kelly, member of Hackney Playbus board. Find out more about Hackney Playbus here – https://hackneyplaybus.org/an interview with Laura and Gemma, regular stay and play attendees.See more of Eva’s work at https://www.playbuildplay.org.uk/CREDITS:Episode produced by Eva FreemanArtwork by Eva FreemanEpisode image @playbuildplaySound design by Hannah Kemp WelchThis podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the RecordFind out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories

Our first episode is out on Wednesday September 20th! Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss it. People on the frontline of the childcare crisis share their stories and investigate the historical roots of the problems they face. As they look into the past, will they find solutions to the problems of today? Hear from campaigners for single parents' rights, migrants with no recourse to public funds, parents of disabled children, breastfeeding mothers and parents of teenagers about their childcare experiences.This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London.Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories