July 13, 2011
2011 Family Friendly Report Card sees downgrade of last year’s score
- Transport costs, childcare costs, housing problems, work-life balance issues and the economic climate restrict UK’s family friendly status
The UK has received a ‘D plus’ grade for its status as a family friendly society.
Produced by the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI), the Family Friendly Report Card is an annual assessment of the UK’s progress in becoming a family friendly society, using school-style grades.
The score for the 2011 edition highlights the scale of the Government’s challenge in delivering the Prime Minister’s commitment to make the UK the most family friendly country in Europe. The report shows how tough making the UK family friendly is given the economic climate and considerable squeeze on public and family finances.
The 2011 grade is a fall from last year’s ‘C minus’ grade, with the financial squeeze on UK families cited as the main reason for the slide. This is backed up by separate polling* published by FPI earlier this week which shows more than half of parents (54%) believe family life is in crisis. 76% say that stress is undermining family life in the UK, with the main reasons cited being financial pressures (67%), long working hours (37%) and concerns about possible unemployment (24%).
The 2011 Report Card’s overall grade was aggregated from scores in four separate areas, based upon four fundamental prerequisites for a family friendly society:
A fairer society for families Verdict: D minus
Benefit changes, the rising cost of raising a child (an average of £210,848), the lack of progress on pensioner poverty and the threatened increase in child poverty are factors in the D minus score.
Family Friendly business and working life Verdict: C minus
Recent measures to improve maternity and paternity leave are acknowledged. The Report cites high levels of parental concern over the commercialisation of childhood, but also notes the Coalition’s efforts in tackling this.
Essential service provision for families and children Verdict: D
The threat of Sure Start closures, rising childcare costs and the developing elderly care crisis result in the low score.
Family friendly infrastructure and living environment Verdict: C minus
The Report considers the impact on families of rising rail fares and rising rates of overcrowded households, but also notes increased use of green spaces and a slight rise in the availability of affordable homes.
Overall 2011 Family Friendly Report Card score: D plus
Dr Katherine Rake, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, said: “In 2011, families find themselves caught between the economic reality of benefit and service cutbacks and a new set of policies which are yet to have a tangible impact.”
“We welcome the indications of a more supportive policy environment on the horizon for families and parents. But families are now waiting to see whether these positive gestures will counteract the significant pressures they are under, and lead us to a more family friendly society.”
She added: “It is vital that we unite as a society to help families thrive, with government, business, the voluntary and community sector, and families themselves working in partnership. Such unity is especially vital in current times, when our resources are so stretched.”
To view the full report, click here.
