Single-parent families in the City of Brussels municipality will soon be able to enjoy 20 hours of free babysitting a year to take pressure off them. A budget of €150,000 has been freed up for this purpose.
One-third of households in Brussels are single-parent families. In 80% of cases, women are the single parent. During a discussion day on single parenthood held last October, people in this situation cited a social, economic and mental overload. With only one income, there is also an increased risk of poverty for single-parent families. To help these parents, the City of Brussels and its Social Services (CPAS) are establishing a new babysitting service.
"Many single parents live in constant tension, juggling the needs of their children, their jobs, paying bills, and more," said CPAS Chair Khalid Zian. "Giving them free time via babysitting vouchers is a way of giving them a break, a moment to take care of themselves."
Getting tasks done
Under this scheme, single parents will be offered 20 hours of free babysitting a year. In practical terms, parents can receive up to 20 one-hour vouchers per year. The aim is to offer single parents time to attend to their administrative or medical appointments or simply to take a breather and focus on their well-being.
Single parents can obtain vouchers on request from their social worker or from the City of Brussels Babysitting Service.
To ensure a quality service, qualified instructors will be babysitting children. They will also receive additional training and be taught first aid. A budget of €150,000 has been allocated for this scheme, which covers the coordination of the project, the remuneration of qualified babysitters, their travel and training.
The City of Brussels also provides free schooling (supplies, swimming pool, extracurricular activities, hot meals), reduced-price holiday activities and free tutoring centres to single parents.
"It is important to put in place high-quality schemes that take the pressure off parents and provide a genuine service to children. Happy parents mean happy children," said Faouzia Hariche, Councillor for Public Education, Youth and Human Resources.
