Nanny Solidarity Network
The Nanny Solidarity Network started with a small group at the beginning of the pandemic who wanted to assist nannies and au pairs at imminent risk of severe financial hardship during the lockdown. Through this we saw first hand how the childcare crisis had led to the continued exploitation of low-paid migrant domestic workers, and how unsupported so many of them were by our sector and by the government during the lockdown and beyond. In April 2020, the Network was established, and in May 2020 we established a hardship fund to support nannies and au pairs who were made jobless or homeless due to COVID-19, and who—for whatever reason—did not have access to government schemes or UC. We raised over £9000 in under just over two months, and supported 45 nannies and au pairs with emergency grants. From there, the Network grew, became established as a formal CIC, and is now an expanding migrant-led and migrant-focused mutual aid group specifically for nannies and au pairs—the first of its kind in the UK. Our work is dedicated to funding and delivering charitable services, and we strive to inspire and improve the lives of those nannies and au pairs who need assistance. We always have been, and always will be by nannies, for nannies.