Proposed cost of living help for families welcomed

Parents and a children's charity have welcomed measures in the government's proposed budget to help families with the cost of living.

The Jersey government proposes doubling the parental grant, increasing free nursery hours for 2-3 year olds from 15 hours to 20 hours and giving families who earn £80,000 or less a family support payment of £250 for every school age child.

Fiona Vacher from the Jersey Child Care Trust (JCCT) described these as "significant increases."

However poverty charity Caritas Jersey told the BBC these measures "barely touch the sides."

In publishing its proposed budget the government has outlined its priorities for the next four years.

The States assembly will propose changes to the budget and then vote on it in December.

The government's planned measures to help families with the cost of living have been welcomed by the JCCT.

Fiona Vacher from the charity said: "Helping families to live good lives here in Jersey is crucial.

"We want to make sure children are having the best experience they can have in the earliest years because that is the difference between being a happy and healthy adult or not.

"These are significant increases to our mind. We hear every day of families who are struggling to make ends meet and we know that this will make a big difference families particularly that two to three years nursery increase. That could be the difference for families considering whether to return to work or not."

The BBC spoke to two parents who said the measures would help those struggling to make ends meet.

Lucy Jordan said: "I feel you can't go wrong really because what we have right now is barely enough to survive.

"I've got two kids and I've got them in nursery.

"I've got 15 hours a week now and I can't go back to work because they're not in nursery for long enough and I'm also paying all the rest of the fees on top of what gets paid for. If I could get back to work that would make it a lot easier."

Another parent, Tony McAllister, said: "I think it can only be good for the families that are on the borderline.

"I think currently everybody is struggling so if the government can give us more help, or nursery, especially with kids, then it's a win-win for us hopefully.

"It's a bit of a struggle when you're working full-time but we just about get by."

Patrick Lynch, the CEO of charity Caritas said measures don't go far enough.

He said: "It's good to see some measures but it barely touches the sides."

"There is very little for a lot of our clients who don't have direct family."

"And the government still haven't committed to a taskforce on poverty and the cost of living."

One of they key measures the government announced is to increase free nursery hours for two to three year olds from 15 hours to 20 hours.

Cheeky Monkeys nursery said while this was a "fantastic offer" some nurseries were struggling with capacity issues.

In a statement it said: "Cheeky Monkeys is already at capacity for the two-year-old age group and isn't able to offer the sessions to all current children and families that they would like. We also hold a waiting list for spaces.

"The increase in hours from 15 to 20 whilst a fantastic offer for families wouldn't instantly be available in all settings due to capacity issues.

"Some families in full-time placements would benefit, however not all those in current part-time placements as these couldn't necessarily be extended to accommodate the 20 hours."

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