ORB: Community

Children are our Future: Childcare Needs of the Chinese Community with Children Under 12 Living in the EHSSB Area

Author(s):	Eastern Health and Social Services Board and Barnardo's
Document Type:	Report
Year:	2002
Publisher:	Barnardo's
Place of Publication:	Belfast
Subject Area(s):	Community, Culture/Identity, Equality issues, Ethnicity
Client Group(s) :	Carers, Children, Families, Minority Ethnic Groups

Abbreviations: EHSSB - Eastern Health and Social Service Board

Background to the Research

Although much has been written in relation to the Chinese community, research had neglected the child-care needs of this community.
The study set out to explore child-care arrangements for children under 12 made by the Chinese community in the EHSSB area with a view to making recommendations to ensure appropriate provision for this group.

Research Approach

A questionnaire was administered using an interview format in Chinese and English to 73 respondents in urban and rural settings throughout the Board area.
Two focus groups consisting of 15 women (with 37 children ) were held in Bangor and Belfast to explore further issues raised in the interviews.

Main Findings

Nine out of 10 respondents were women; men approached to complete the survey stated their wives were responsible for child-care.
Three quarters of the sample were from Hong Kong. Of the total sample, 82% said Cantonese was their first language and 75% of all their children were described as bi-lingual. One quarter of respondents said they were unable to read or write in English.
Three quarters of the sample were employed in catering and 92% of partners were in the same industry. More than one quarter of the sample worked more than 10 hours a day, while 40% of partners worked more than 10 hours, 6 days a week. Over half of the sample felt that working these hours made child-care arrangements difficult.
Only one quarter of those surveyed used a day nursery and more than one third did not know how to access such a service. One third had used a child-minder and almost half of the sample did not know how to access a child-minder.
Ninety-two per cent of the sample had not used local community centres and 98% had never used women's groups - both potential sources of advice and support. Most cited the language barrier and lack of confidence as reasons for not using these venues.
Only 29% of respondent's mothers lived in Northern Ireland and only 18% of mother-in-laws; the absence of extended family has important implications for child-care provision.
Only 2% of the sample had sought help/advice from a GP and only 4% from a teacher in relation to their children. However more than one third would go to community sources including Barnardos.
Over three quarters of respondents thought children were taken to the workplace in the evening, with many stating that htere was a separate room available for homework/TV.
Six out of 10 of those surveyed thought children might be looked after by local Irish people overnight or for the whole working week.
Ninety-three per cent felt there was a need for a special form of child-care provision tailored for the Chinese community.
Participants in the focus groups expressed a need for culturally specific child-care provision that took account of the atypical working hours, language and cultural differences.
The general consensus amongst the focus group participants was for home care, preferably subsidised or supported by the statutory and/or voluntary sector.
A large number of participants in the focus groups emphasised that child-care information is impossible to access without being a fluent English speaker.
Many women expressed a wish for special after school tuition for their children in order that they achieve a good standard of education.

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