The FPI Family Friendly report card says that despite the recent focus in policy on early years education and schools over the last year, the impact of spending cuts on local services such as children’s centres are now starting to be felt by families.
It goes on to say there is concern that decisions made by different local authorities when cutting budgets could create a ‘postcode lottery’ of local services for families.
Overall, the charity has given the UK a D plus grade in its annual assessment of the country’s progress in becoming a family friendly society, using school style grades. This year’s score is a grade less than in 2010, when the FPI awarded the UK a C minus (News, 13 July 2010). It attributes the effect of the economic climate and increased living costs on families to the low mark.
The report card scored the UK worst for its fairer society for families, with a grade of D minus. The FPI says this is because of the increased costs of raising a child and the ‘radical overhaul’ of the tax, benefits and pensions system.
A grade of C minus was given to the UK for its family friendly infrastructure and living environment, which includes green spaces and housing, along with its business and working life.
The mark reflects the increased green space, more flexible working and the introduction of shared parental leave over the last year. As well as an increase in the number of people working anti-social hours and the high-level of parental concern over the commercialisation and sexualisation of children.
Katherine Rake, chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, said, ‘In 2011, families find themselves caught between the economic reality of benefit and service cutbacks and a new set of policies which are yet to have a tangible impact.’
‘We welcome the indications of a more supportive policy environment on the horizon for families and parents. But families are now waiting to see whether these positive gestures will counteract the significant pressures they are under, and lead us to a more family-friendly society.’
She added, ‘It is vital that we unite as a society to help families thrive, with Government, business, the voluntary and community sector, and families themselves working in partnership. Such unity is especially vital in current times, when our resources are so stretched.’
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