Rural Childcare pilot project - Learning from the Gwarchod Ni rural childcare pilot project

Rural Childcare evaluation - Learning from the Gwarchod Ni rural childcare pilot project 

Catalys undertook an evaluation of a pilot childcare provision programme, which operated across Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys. Gwarchod Ni, was a project focused on childcare as a key tool in addressing worklessness. The project focused on former “Communities First” areas where work was already being undertaken on Childcare and other socio-economic issues. The rationale being that effectively targeted support for childcare can make a significant contribution to enabling adults, particularly women, to access the employment market. 

As part of the project, the team facilitated a conference on the theme of learning from rural childcare pilot projects. The conference will draw on a range of experiences of rural childcare from across Wales and beyond, in particular those of Gwarchod Ni “Innovative solutions to childcare in rural areas”.

Alex, from the Catalys team, presents an overview of the evaluation findings

The target audience for the conference was Gwarchod Ni project beneficiaries and partners, policy makers in childcare services and those working in the childcare sector. GwarchodNi was a Rural Development Plan Cooperation project delivered across Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd. The project was led by Ceredigion County Council. 

The project was established to pilot new forms of childcare in order to respond to needs in rural areas. This event drew on learning from the pilot alongside wider experience, providing an opportunity to discuss what works, what is needed, and draw conclusions regarding future direction. 

The project conclusions were: 

• Childcare was a cross-cutting theme across service delivery 

• Frustrations exist around the lack of a national childcare strategy 

• Opportunities existed around “brokered” childcare packages 

• Support for wrap around provision by schools 

• Build on existing capacity and develop holistic multi-sectoral approaches

Gwarchod Ni was funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.