A CO-OPERATIVE play scheme, run and controlled by parents, should be established for hard-working city parents, a Labour county councillor has claimed.
Coun Richard Udall hopes Worcestershire County Council will support his idea for the scheme to help tackle childcare costs for Worcester families.
He highlighted the summer play schemes currently being offered with some charging £20 a day for children.
Coun Udall said many parents were forced to reduce working hours during holidays, work term time only or take unpaid leave.
“We need to look at other more imaginative ways to help; only the County Council can step in and give the leadership to enable families to take control and form co-operatives to help each other,” he said.
“We have already helped by providing support for the third sector by assisting Credit Unions to be formed in the county, this is the next step, we need to help families to help themselves and to come together and work for each other.
“We can provide operational support, training and assistance, which would enable new child care co-operatives to grow.
“We could start internally, we are one of the largest employers in the county, but provide no help or support to our own employees with child care,” he added.
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