£2.6m boost for childcare scheme will help more young parents into work

Communities and Children Secretary, Carl Sargeant has announced a £2.6m EU-backed investment in an ambitious Welsh Government childcare scheme designed to help young parents into work.

Parents, Childcare and Employment (PaCE) is a £13.5m programme, backed with £8.5m EU funds, that helps unemployed or economically inactive parents into work.

Today’s announcement secures the final funding package, including £1.7m EU funds, helping a further 1,400 young parents improve their employability. It follows last October’s £10.9m announcement of the PaCE initiative – bringing support to a total of 7,800 people across Wales.

PaCE aims to help improve employment prospects by providing access to training or job opportunities that might not otherwise have been possible due to childcare commitments. PaCE covers the cost of childcare while parents undertake training to gain the skills they need to get a job.

Carl Sargeant said:

“The First Minister has made it clear that childcare will be right at the top of this Welsh Government’s priorities. Today’s confirmation of a further £2.6m for our PaCE programme, in addition to the £10.9million announced last October, is excellent news. It means that thousands of young parents across Wales will be free to enrol in training or apply for jobs safe in the knowledge that their childcare commitments are being taken care of”.

The Minister also welcomed the EU’s contribution to PaCE.

“It is my personal view, as well as the official position of the Welsh Government, that Wales benefits hugely from the UK’s membership of the EU. PaCE is just one example of how, with the help of the EU, we are able to offer people across Wales opportunities to achieve their aspirations and improve Wales’ future prosperity”.