Defence Secretary expands wraparound childcare support to service families deployed overseas. They will now receive 20 hours a week of funded before and after school childcare will save families around £3,400-a-year.
Armed Forces families deployed overseas will save thousands of pounds a year in childcare costs as the government increases support for service personnel, building on its commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.
The announcement forms part of a drive to boost military morale from Ministers, ahead of the first Parliamentary debate on the government’s landmark Armed Forces Commissioner Bill.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP is extending a scheme which helps service families in the UK pay for wraparound childcare, to those based abroad. Hundreds of families will be able to claim up to 20 hours a week of funded before and after school childcare, saving around £3,400-a-year.
The government is renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, and have served, and the expansion of the Wraparound Childcare scheme to families deployed around the world recognises the unique challenges faced by parents serving abroad and the increased cost of living.
The expansion, expected to cost £3m over the next 5 years, is testament to the government’s commitment to always putting personnel at the heart of future defence plans.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
“We are on a drive to boost military morale and deliver on our manifesto promise to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve – from establishing a strong, independent Armed Forces Commissioner to providing the largest pay rise for personnel in decades.
“We ask our Armed Forces to make extraordinary sacrifices to defend UK interests and keep us all safe. We recognise the commitment of service families based abroad and that is why we are stepping up support, with the expansion of wraparound childcare set to save families thousands of pounds a year.”
Tackling the ongoing Armed Forces recruitment and retention challenges also continues to be a key focus for the government.
As the Ministry of Defence announced earlier this year, it has slashed recruitment red tape to make the process more straightforward for those wanting to join the military. Through the removal of 100 unnecessary medical policies such as blocking some sufferers of hay fever, eczema, and acne, more than 700 applications have been reconsidered.
These reforms follow the government announcing the largest Armed Forces pay increases for 22 years. The pay rise awarded an average 6% pay rise with new recruits receiving a 35% rise, ensuring all members of the Armed Forces receive at least the National Living Wage for the first time. This acknowledges the extraordinary sacrifices made by personnel to protect and serve the UK and will help address recruitment and retention challenges, especially in light of rising cost of living pressures.