Childcare Voices

On the Record
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People on the frontline of the childcare crisis share their stories and investigate the historical roots of the problems they face. As they look into the past, will they find solutions to the problems of today?  Hear from campaigners for single parents' rights, migrants with no recourse to public funds, parents of disabled children, breastfeeding mothers and parents of teenagers about their childcare experiences. Childcare Voices won the silver Grassroots Production Award at the Audio Production Awards, 2024. This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://childcarehistory.org.uk/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 3

    04/15/2025

    Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 3

    Episode 3 of Nursery Workers Bite Back picks up the story of the Islington Nursery Strike. What did the nursery workers achieve after fifteen long weeks of strike action? How did the strike affect the parents, children and workers? Presented by an Islington playworker experiencing funding cuts today, this episode looks at what happened next, how childcare has changed since the 1980s and what lessons the strike holds that might help us face the challenges of the present. Discover the history of this important strike of nursery workers, told for the first time in this three-part podcast. Made by a group of present-day nursery workers, parents, carers and campaigners, the podcast explains how the nursery workers fought for better conditions for both workers and the children in their care. Written and produced by Kelly Allnutt, Kerry O’Connor and Lydia CS Interviews were with Julia Manning Morton, Karen Reeve, Terry Conway, Ivor Kallin, David Saltiel, Veronica Speirs and Karen Quinn. The poem 1984 was written and performed by Ivor Kallin. Sound design by Hannah Kemp - Welch. Nursery Workers Bite Back was made as part of ‘When the Nursery Workers Said No’, a project run by Rosa Schling, funded by Historic England. Thank you to all the strikers, all the group members and the Parent House for hosting us. Find out more at https://childcarehistory.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  2. Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 2

    04/15/2025

    Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 2

    Episode 2 of Nursery Workers Bite Back details the dramatic events that took place during the Islington Nursery Strike of 1984. Discover what happened when parents and toddlers took over Islington Town Hall, how the strikers made a splash at the opening of a swimming pool and how they connected with the miners strike. Presented by a nursery worker with recent experience of going on strike, episode 2 explores the tactics and strategy used by the nursery workers throughout the fifteen week strike. Discover the history of this important strike of nursery workers, told for the first time in this three-part podcast. Made by a group of present-day nursery workers, parents, carers and campaigners, the podcast explains how the nursery workers fought for better conditions for both workers and the children in their care. Written and produced by Jo Henley, Robyn Moffat and Albinia Stanley Interviews were with, Julia Manning Morton, Karen Reeve, Terry Conway, Ivor Kallin, David Saltiel, Veronica Speirs and Karen Quinn. The poem 1984 was written and performed by Ivor Kallin. Sound design by Hannah Kemp-Welch. Nursery Workers Bite Back was made as part of ‘When the Nursery Workers Said No’, a project run by Rosa Schling, funded by Historic England. Thank you to all the strikers, all the group members and the Parent House for hosting us. Find out more at https://childcarehistory.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  3. Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 1

    04/15/2025

    Nursery Workers Bite Back Episode 1

    On Monday 16 April 1984 155 nursery workers employed by Islington Council began an indefinite strike. Their industrial action was sparked by understaffing in the nurseries, which meant there was often an unsafe ratio of children to staff. The strike lasted fifteen weeks, during which time all twelve council-run Children’s Day Centres were closed. The strikers returned to work on 30 July 1984, having won real improvements in the Children’s Day Centres. Discover this important history told here for the first time. Made by a group of present-day nursery workers, parents, carers and campaigners, these podcasts tell the story of how the nursery workers fought for better conditions for both themselves and the children in their care. Episode 1 sets the scene for the nursery worker strike, explaining what life in the nurseries was like in the early 1980s and how the nursery workers took the decision to go on strike. Written and produced by Karen Fischer, Jo Harrison and Angela Mascolo. Interviews were with, Julia Manning Morton, Karen Reeve, Terry Conway, Ivor Kallin, David Saltiel, Veronica Speirs and Karen Quinn. The poem 1984 was written and performed by Ivor Kallin. Sound design by Hannah Kemp - Welch. Nursery Workers Bite Back was made as part of ‘When the Nursery Workers Said No’, a project run by Rosa Schling for On the Record, funded by Historic England. Thank you to all the strikers, all the group members and the Parent House for hosting us. Find out more at https://childcarehistory.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  4. Nursery Workers Bite Back: Trailer

    04/09/2025

    Nursery Workers Bite Back: Trailer

    Childcare Voices is back with a second series out on 16 April! Nursery Workers Bite Back tells the story of the Islington Nursery Strike (1984). Made by a group of childcare workers, parents, carers and activists, discover the history of this important but little known strike of nursery workers who fought for better conditions for both workers and the children in their care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min
  5. Au Pairs

    11/08/2023

    Au Pairs

    The term au pair means 'on equal terms.' Raquel Camarasa asks, how often is that really the case, really, for young migrant women who come to live with families as au pairs today? First Raquel hears about the Ayahs home in Hackney. The home provided accommodation for Indian Ayahs and Chinese Amahs, who were nannies that cared for the children of British colonial families on the long voyages between India and China and Britain. Raquel shares her own experiences as an au pair, both positive and negative, and speaks to people working as au pairs in London now. Why, they ask, is this form of childcare not regulated? Why are there few protections for au pairs? Check out the Nanny Solidarity Network: https://nannysolidaritynetwork.co.uk/ and the IWGB Nanny and Au Pair Union Branch - https://iwgb.org.uk/en/page/nannies-and-au-pairs/ This episode contains: * An interview with Niti Acharya from Hackney Museum recorded by Rosa Schling and Veronica Deutsch for On the Record * Interviews with Aleja, and Lily and Inma recorded by Raquel Camarasa CREDITS: Episode produced by Raquel Camarasa Artwork by Eva Freeman Sound design by Hannah Kemp Welch Image caption: Ayah takes Grace and Paul Friesen, brother and sister to John, for a walk in the go-cart. India, M.P. Citation: Mennonite Board of Missions Photograph Collection. India MP, 1951-1963. IV-10-7.2. Box 4, Folder 24, Photo #23. Mennonite Church Archives. Elkhart, Indiana. This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
  6. Who Cares for the Youths?

    11/01/2023

    Who Cares for the Youths?

    In episode 7 of Childcare Voices, Aga asks 'Who Cares for the Youths?' and looks at what kind of 'childcare' is needed when children are older. Aga is mum to two active teenage boys, who love trips and baking, but she says it is hard to find creative activities for them to do, especially during the school holidays. Aga finds that youth services have suffered devastating cuts in the last decade. She wishes young people could have opportunities to go away on trips, gain new experiences and play together. She looks to the past to see how people organised on a grassroots level to provide opportunities for their children and young people, and talks about community organising in the London borough of Hackney today. Aga is part of Red Roots Incubator, a community interest company - https://www.redrootsincubator.org/ Follow them on Instagram @redrootsincubator and X @RRIncubator This episode contains: * Interview with Kevin Jenkins, recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project * Interview with Empress and Kwame, recorded by Agnieszka Rolkiewicz CREDITS: Episode produced by Agnieszka Rolkiewicz Episode image by John Blower Artwork by Eva Freeman Sound design by Hannah Kemp Welch This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  7. Nursery Workers

    10/25/2023

    Nursery Workers

    In this episode, Mona Adam wants to know more about what it is like to work in nurseries. As a councillor in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea she has visited nurseries and enjoyed spending time with the staff and children there. While the nurseries seemed like happy places, she wonders if there are hidden challenges she is unaware of in this demanding, but essential, job? Mona investigates the situation for childcare workers both today and in the past, discovering that childcare is underfunded and suffering from a shortage of trained staff. Despite the government's plans to extend the existing childcare subsidy, does the existing system have the capacity to deal with such an expansion? This episode contains: * Interview with Jenny Williams, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record project * Interview with Helen Penn, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record project CREDITS: Episode produced by Mona Adam Artwork by Eva Freeman Sound design by Hannah Kemp Welch This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
  8. No Recourse to Public Funds

    10/18/2023

    No Recourse to Public Funds

    In this episode, Imran Bukenya, stay-at-home dad and community organiser with Together in Unity, talks about what it means to have ‘no recourse to public funds’ and need childcare. Imran asks if previous generations of migrants to the UK faced the same challenges? He investigates the archives to find out how people campaigned to create childcare accessible to all in the past, and calls on the government to include all families in the childcare support currently available. You can sign a petition calling for all parents to have access to childcare here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/let-all-parents-access-free-childcare?utm_medium=social+utm_source=twitter This episode contains: * Interview with Shirley Peters, recorded by Rosa Schling for Holding the Baby, an On the Record project * Interview with Jenny Williams, recorded by Rosa Schling for Grow Your Own, an On the Record project Image of First Neighbourhood Co-operative Nursery, courtesy of Norma Dudley, Doing it Ourselves archive / Bishopsgate Institute. CREDITS: Episode produced by Imran Bukenya Artwork by Eva Freeman Sound design by Hannah Kemp Welch This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://on-the-record.org.uk/projects/grow-your-own/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 min
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Trailer

About

People on the frontline of the childcare crisis share their stories and investigate the historical roots of the problems they face. As they look into the past, will they find solutions to the problems of today?  Hear from campaigners for single parents' rights, migrants with no recourse to public funds, parents of disabled children, breastfeeding mothers and parents of teenagers about their childcare experiences. Childcare Voices won the silver Grassroots Production Award at the Audio Production Awards, 2024. This podcast is part of the Grow Your Own oral history project, run by On the Record and funded by Trust for London. Find out more at https://childcarehistory.org.uk/ or follow us on twitter @growyourown_ohp and instagram @on_the_record_stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    On the Record
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © On the Record
  • Show Website
    Childcare Voices