A life raft for women's equality

Excerpts:

Detailing a series of key policy recommendations for government, the Life Raft for Women's Equality comes amid growing evidence that the government's approach to reducing the deficit is 'turning back time' on women's equality - and is published on the same day the Minister for Women and Equalities is expected to give a speech outlining the government's approach to women and the economy. 

The recommendations include: 

• restoration of support for childcare costs for low-income families to pre-April 2011 levels - this would help ensure paid employment makes financial sense for the many low income women who've found they are better off not working.
• Ring fencing of funding for Sure Start children's centres - this would further protect women's access to employment and shore up the other vital benefits these centres offer thousands of families.
• Stopping local authorities from treating violence against women services as a soft touch for cuts to ensure that some of the most vulnerable women in the UK have access to the support they need.