Work care synergies

This two-year research project took place throughout 2010 and 2011, finishing in December 2011.

The main objectives were to:

• synthesise research findings from FP research projects in the field of work-care, but also family policy, female equality and empowerment, social quality, flexicurity, and social cohesion for target group-specific themes and enable efficient policy making
• transform research knowledge into usable dissemination material and provoke discussions in creative ways
• establish and host target audience-focused events
• use extensive existing networks to disseminate policy relevant findings
• document the outcome of local discussions with NGOs and policy makers
• inform interested citizens via mediators
• spread information in various official EU languages and to different target audiences
• produce a summary of local dissemination materials and discussion outcomes and present key messages in a policy relevant venue
• alert NGOs, local mediators and policy makers to the usefulness and usability of research findings as well as the research community to the need to communicate research to potential local users
• create bridges between researchers and users.

This project was successful in disseminating relevant research findings from 20 research projects to wider audiences and initiating discussions in local contexts. Research teams explored how families in different societal frameworks and settings combine their work and (child-)care responsibilities.

We examined and illustrated the impact of labour market transitions across generations, focusing on a comparison of younger and older workers, as well as labour market transitions around family formation. These are highly significant transitions given the importance of getting into and staying in employment; the long term consequence of exclusionary transitions where people cannot retain a foothold in work result in poverty; successful integrative transitions allow people to change their working time to retain an employment relationship and longer term financial security.

We targeted key NGOs and UK policy makers who were invited to four events hosted in London and Brighton. Participation included the Parenting and Families Institute, the Age and Employment Network, the Employers Forum on Age; The Trust for the Study of Adolescence, Mumsnet; Mosaic; CUPP; Brighton and Hove City Council Research Department; SEEDA and the Institute for Employment Studies and their links with national government departments. Policy briefs were distributed through dedicated mailing lists and our web site.