Save the Children do more for dads

Save the Children have unveiled a new paternity leave policy. They claim it is the most generous in the charity sector.

Currently dads at the charity are entitled to just two weeks of statutory leave. But that is set to be boosted to three months of fully paid leave.

Crucially the leave is also flexible. Dads can take the time at any point in their baby’s first year or in the year following adoption.

Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children, said: “Increasing the leave available for parents is good for their health, child development and gender equality. We fight for that in our work around the world. This policy puts our commitment to children and their families at the heart of our culture. It’s about practicing what we preach.”

Equality

The change came about after pressure from and consultation with the charity’s in house equalities networks.

Laura-Louise Fairley, Save the Children’s Accountability Manager and Co-Chair of the Parents’ Network, said: “Mums and dads at Save the Children want to live in a society where all parents have the chance to play an active role in their baby’s first months, regardless of wealth or how their child was born. The current Shared Parental Leave system in Britain simply doesn’t work, so we came up with something better. We’re delighted Save the Children has taken this transformative step towards truly equal parenthood.”

Save the Children was founded a century ago by sisters Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton. It’s now a global organisation operating in 29 countries. Its patron is HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne.

Values

The policy has been introduced with immediate effect and backdated to October 1.  Among the parents hoping to use it is Claudio Deola, a water and sanitation expert. He’s recently been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help tackle the Ebola crisis. He said: “I just had a baby girl, and I get sent to war zones for work. But as expats living in London, my wife and I don’t have family or any support networks around to help. So it’s a really, really worrying time. This policy could change everything. I’ll be able to spend time with my daughter, be there to support her mum, and live by the same values I fight for overseas.”

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• paternity rights