Minister launches Believe in Childcare? a report into childcare needs for ethnic minority communities in NI

Barnardo’s NI in partnership with the NI Council for Ethnic Minorities have launched a report into the childcare needs of ethnic minority communities in Northern Ireland. Over three hundred families from twenty five countries who live in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area took part in the research. The report highlights the fact that many ethnic minority parents rely on informal childcare arrangements because formal childcare is expensive and does not offer the flexibility needed. The report, written by Dr Donna Kernaghan from Barnardo's NI recommends that these issues should be addressed within an overarching childcare strategy for Northern Ireland. The report can be found at:  http://bit.ly/1klThd6

Pictured at the launch of the report Believe in Childcare? are OFMDFM Junior Minister Jennifer McCann and 2 year old Alana Andrea Bao from Craigavon.