Archived News
Mothers Union launches Flexible Families Campaign
In the week leading up to our release of new research revealing the impact of working unsocial hours on family life, the Mothers\' Union has launched a new campaign calling for rights to request flexible working to be extended to all parents of children under 18.
Keep time for children wholeheartedly endorses this campaign - Click here to go to their website and find out more about how you can support it.
News added: Mon 11th Sep, 2006 Government launches Parent Know How campaign
Darren Gough, Antony Worrall Thompson and Emma Forbes, amongst many others, have joined forces with the DfES and the UK's top parenting organisations to create the 'Parent Know How' campaign. This is in response to powerful evidence which shows that mums and dads getting involved with their children, particularly at home, is the single most important factor in a child's development and future success, even taking into consideration wealth, education and other external factors.
Most parents will come across difficulties with parenting at some point or another and need help and support, but, many mums and dads feel that asking for help is an admission that they must be a 'bad' parent. The 'Parent Know How' campaign has been developed to break down some of the perceived barriers to asking for help. It will also offer some simple, practical advice to help give mums and dads the confidence and 'know how' to make the most of their relationship with their child. The campaign encourages parents to get involved with their children and highlights three achievable 'Together' messages:
1. Eat together at least once a week
2. Have fun learning together
3. Keep fit together
Keep time for children is supporting the campaign. Michael Clark says, 'Parent Know How is a fantastic campaign highlighting that the most important thing you can give your child is your time. It's the simple things that make all the difference - whether it's spending time eating a meal together, going for a walk or helping them with their homework. I believe that this is more valuable than toys and activities. The most important thing a child wants and needs in their life is quality time spent with their parents.'
To find out more, go to www.directgov.gov.uk/parentknowhow
News added: Fri 7th Apr, 2006 Requests for flexible working being turned down
Firms are being urged to bring in new ways of working after research showed almost 10% of people would like to work fewer hours, even if it meant less pay. The TUC study found half a million workers had had a request for shorter working hours turned down by managers.
News added: Fri 16th Dec, 2005 Have an aah! Night
Bisto has launched a campaign to get families eating together at least once a week. Why not visit their site and sign the pledge to spend one night a week having a meal with your family.
www.aahnight.co.uk
News added: Thu 10th Nov, 2005 A tv in your child's bedroom? Just say 'no'
Isn't it satisfying when what passes for petty parental prejudice is vindicated by research? After enduring years of argument about our refusal to let our children have televisions in their bedrooms, I was able to flash a Times headline to them on Tuesday: “Take TV out of child’s bedroom, parents are told.”
News added: Mon 11th Jul, 2005 Table manners
The benefits of family meals are far-reaching, often surprising and should not be underestimated.
News added: Wed 18th May, 2005 Respect starts at home
In political life, resigning to spend more time with your family has become a euphemism for almost anything except, well, wanting to see more of your family.
News added: Mon 16th May, 2005 new poster available
 We are participating in an exciting new initiative with Family Matters -York, who are doing innovative work in parenting education, to produce a poster to underline the importance of family time.
The colourful and fun A3 size poster (shown right), has a clear message: 'Make time for your child', and displays the Keep Time for Children logo and website. Earlier posters in this series have been widely used by Family Matters in schools, nurseries, doctor's surgeries, Sure Start and health centres not only in York, but much further afield.
We’re pleased to announce that these posters are now available to our supporters at a special price of £1 each (including p&p), or £8 for 10 posters. Please help us to promote this vital message and gather further support for the work of Keep Time for Children by displaying them wherever you can.
To order your copy (or copies!), just contact us
News added: Tue 10th May, 2005 Archbishop accuses Britain's parents of child 'abuse'
Britain is in danger of becoming a society of infantilised adults who are abusing their own children by default, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said today.
News added: Thu 14th Apr, 2005 The best years of our lives? We don't think so
Depression and insecurity caused by pressures at home, at school and in their social lives, are blighting the lives of young teenage girls, say figures published today...
News added: Thu 24th Mar, 2005 Government Consultation on Flexible Working
Recently, the government has launched a consultation on flexible working for families. One of the issues it will be looking at will be the idea of extending the existing right of parents of pre-school children to ask for flexible working to cover parents of older children, possibly up to age 17. This would make a difference to an additional 4.5 million parents.
Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry secretary, said “All of us, whether we have children or not, have a real interest in making sure children are brought up well. Children who don’t grow up well end up imposing the most enormous cost on the whole of society.”
Please make your voice heard and support this proposal. Every child, no matter how old, should be able to spend time with their parents. To have your say, go to www.dti.gov.uk/er/workandfamilies.htm and download the consultation document, or request a copy by calling 0870 1502500 and asking for the consultation on ‘work and families: choice and flexibility”.
Please also write to us at ktc@relationshipsfoundation.org and let us know what you think so that we, along with other children’s charities, can put a strong case to the government.
News added: Thu 10th Mar, 2005 Families 'missing weekends'
(Guardian 2004-11-02)
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Parents' weekend work has effect on children
(Daily Mail 2/11/04)
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Families hit by 24/7 working
(Metro 2/11/04)
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Playstation generation could be alone for life
(Times 29/10/04)
More children are now said to be playing alone according to a recent Mintel survey
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Weekend working 'damages family life'
(Telegraph 15/10/04)
News on the release of the NatCen report.
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Keep Time for Children launch at the House of Commons
The official launch of Keep Time for Children took place on November 2nd at the House of Commons. The event was chaired by Lady Elizabeth Toulson, chair of KTC, and our speakers were the three MPs, Andrew Selous, Win Griffiths and Steve Webb, who are members of our Advisory Board, and Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families who shares our vision.
We were very encouraged by the support we received and also the press coverage which we expect to raise the profile of KTC.
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Report on weekend working published
"Keep Time for Children: The incidence of weekend working" was published by the National Centre for Social Research in October, demonstrating the significance of weekend working. Amongst other findings, it showed that around 1.4 million parents are working regularly through the whole weekend and over 2.5 million families are affected by a parent working regularly over the weekend. The whole report is available for £15 from info@natcen.ac.uk
The report was commissioned by KTC thanks to a grant from the Headley Trust. You can read more about it on our research page.
News added: Mon 29th Nov, 2004 Home is where the heart - and money - is
Being a full-time parent can end up saving you more than you earned going out to work, says Elaine Saunders
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Tories may pay mothers to stay at home
Mothers could be paid by the state to stay at home and look after their children instead of returning to work, under plans being drafted by the Conservatives for the next election... (Sarah Hall)
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Bring back mud pies
(Telegraph 27/03/2004)
Children need to get out more, says Jane Bond. It's healthier - and it's fun
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 The jury's out on whether flexi-time rules are benefiting young families
(Telegraph 01/04/04)
It is a year since a change in the law gave employees with young children the right to ask for hours that suit them. Hilaire Gomer discovers how much difference it has made...
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Fathers too scared to request flexible work hours
(Daily Telegraph 5/04/04)
Fathers are failing to capitalise on new flexible working time arrangements because they fear that it will mean "career death", the Government admitted last night... (Sarah Womack)
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Your family needs you
(Sunday Times 06/06/04)
Some think him sweet, others want him flogged. Julia Llewellyn-Smith on the pressure that caused England’s cricket captain to put wife before wicket
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Take the kids
(Times 12/06/04)
Chloë Bryan-Brown's guide to what's new for families
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 Word about ‘Keep Time for Children’ spreading far and wide
The leaflet we have produced to introduce people to Keep Time for Children is starting to get around, thanks not least to the help of many KTC supporters who passed on copies.
The record for leaflets distributed currently belongs to Mr Gary Grant, the founder and managing director of the toy stores ‘The Entertainer’. Gary is a rarity in the retail trade, having decided that he will not open his stores on a Sunday in order to ensure that his staff get a day off with their families. He is a strong supporter of KTC and has distributed 20,000 leaflets through his stores.
If you would like to help spread the word about KTC by passing on leaflets, just contact the office on 01223 566333 or email us at ktc@relationshipsfoundation.org.
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 New KTC research to be released shortly
KTC has asked well known independent research group NATCEN (National Centre for Social Research) to find out more about the extent of weekend working amongst parents, and also in which sectors this is most prevalent. This will help KTC get a better picture of how many families are affected by restricted shared time off, and inform its communication and campaigning strategy. NATCEN’s report is due to be released shortly. It will be posted on this website, so watch this space!
News added: Thu 28th Oct, 2004 |
