This latest creative action follows the launch of the campaign with the YouTube video ‘Champagne Nurseries, Lemonade Funding’ in March – which has had more than15,000 views since it was published six weeks ago.
Each card has been made by owners and staff around the country who are uniting against the pressures caused by the Government’s funding rates for three- and four-year-olds, and aim to raise awareness among parents, politicians and the public.
The designs are based on the 'champagne, lemonade' theme and the messages explain the difficulties of making a profit under the current and proposed rates.
Childcare minister Sam Gyimah will be among those posted a card on Sunday.
The champagne campaigners are also calling for more nurseries to join them and boycott the 30 hours’ extension.
They highlight National Day Nurseries Association research that 89 per cent of nurseries are making a loss on the 15 hour free places and the recent boycotting of the 30-hour pilot in York as ongoing solidarity within the sector.
Spokesperson for the campaign, Tricia Wellings (pictured centre), is chief executive of MBK Training Group, who operate three Bright Kids nurseries in the West Midlands.
She made her cards with the managers of Bright Kids Crabbs Cross, Anita Shepherd (left) and Lorraine Ashford (right).
‘Parents have been supportive, as they value the nursery care and education their children have before they start school, they want the best for them. Now, as the campaign gains momentum, we need to make MPs and ministers stand up and listen,’ said Ms Wellings.
‘We have seen how the 30 hours’ childcare scheme has been boycotted in York, where the owner of Polly Anna’s nursery said he was losing £20,000 a year offering the 15 hours and so would definitely not be offering parents the 30 hours.
‘If all nursery owners and pre-schools boycotted the 30 hours’ scheme then the Government would be forced to do a U-turn.
‘It is high time the Government acknowledged that there is no such thing as cheap childcare – and that it’s not free for us.’
- For more information on the campaign visit www.champagnenurseries.co.uk.
