Plymouth Working Parents and Carers
Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs you can have, especially if you are balancing an already busy life. We wanted to make it easier to navigate.
We are working together with the largest employers in Plymouth to help you find the information you need to help your family thrive.
Working together across Plymouth
The most asked questions from working parents revolve around balancing work and family life, managing guilt and time, and handling childcare logistics. Parents and carers want to know how to manage their children's needs when they're sick, handling school pickups and extracurricular activities, and how to achieve a healthy work-life balance to ensure quality time with their children.
"I wish I'd known that I could get access to free childcare"
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Childcare Choices
The Best Start in Life website offers trusted advice for families from pregnancy to school age. It includes tips on child development, early education, and a handy Childcare Support Checker to find free, and money saving support with childcare. You can also sign up for weekly emails tailored to your child’s age.
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maternity rights
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paternity leave and pay
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shared parental leave
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adoption leave and pay
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unpaid time off to look after your child
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come to antenatal appointments with your partner.
When you’re a new parent or you’re expecting a baby you have extra rights at work. You or your partner could be entitled to:
Nearly or New Parents
Family and Wellbeing Hubs
Plymouth Family Hubs - and family satellite hubs - offer free, friendly support for families with children from birth to 19 (or 25 for special educational needs). The hubs bring together local services including parenting advice, playgroups and health support, all in one place.
Whether you're expecting a baby or raising teens, Family Hubs help you connect, get answers, and feel supported every step of the way.
The Wellbeing Hubs in Plymouth are friendly community spaces where families can easily access support close to home. Each hub brings together services like health advice, parenting support, money guidance, and local activities, helping residents stay connected, informed, and well.
From adult social care and children’s services to health, wellbeing, education, and support for carers. Whether you're looking for help with money and benefits, finding local events, or exploring special educational needs, the directory makes it easy to find what you need.
It’s regularly updated by Plymouth City Council to ensure families, individuals, and professionals can quickly access the right help at the right time.
The Plymouth Directory
Support for Veterans
Plymouth offers dedicated support for veterans and their families, including wellbeing services, housing advice, employment guidance and social connection through the Veterans and Family Hub. Parents can access help tailored to family life, ensuring no one feels unsupported during or after military service.
Carers
Carers play a vital role in Plymouth, whether they’re foster carers, kinship carers or grandparents stepping in to support a child. The city offers guidance, training, financial help and emotional support through Plymouth City Council’s Fostering Service, Family Hubs and local advice services.
Carers can access practical help, specialist information and a welcoming community to ensure children feel safe, supported and connected. Helpful information and links are below or you can access information through the Family and Wellbeing Hubs and Foster for Plymouth.
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For more help and support head to the Plymouth Online Directory.
