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Mother-of-two Vicky O'Neil was keen to bring together a community of mums who could have a few hours off from their mummy duties one evening or two a month. In September 2017, that dream became a reality when she set up MumSpace - and other mums jumped on board straight away.
Since its launch, all MumSpace events have been sold out. The next one, a 'How do I look?’ evening on 24 January at the Eagles Lab, is no exception to the rule.
As Vicky makes more plans for the upcoming months, which range from upskilling and confidence building workshops to gin tasting, chocolate making and shopping events, she told Express about the five things she would change about the island....
I have a degree. I have managed to hold down a decent career in HR for the last seven years. I am deemed responsible enough to be married, have children and have my own bank account and bank card. So why, in 2018, do I need to have my husband sign a form that 'allows' me to discuss my/our tax affairs?
Pictured: Vicky O'Neil says it's high time women in Jersey can discuss their tax affairs without their hubby's approval.
It's as if the Jersey tax system still seems to regard partnerships in modern marriages as a throwback to the 50s, when it was considered the norm for wives to be the homemakers and husbands, the breadwinners and decision makers. Come on, we’ve moved on from the 1950s stereotypes with the wife, waiting dutifully for the husband to come through the door, whilst she stands there with soothing words about his day at work, dinner on the table and the pipe, smoking jacket and glass of whisky set out in the lounge.
Jersey has women who are successful in their own right having carved out their own careers. Women who are breadwinners. Women who have their own businesses, Women who are homemakers. Women who have careers and are homemakers and decision makers but when it comes to tax, none are trusted to be able to discuss their tax affairs without having 'hubabubs' sign them off as being trustworthy. This system just doesn't have a place in 2018. My money. My tax. Simple.
I’ve had two children and living in Jersey with the kids is just amazing. We have wonderful beaches, decent weather (most of the time!), the schools are just lovely and we feel really safe however, my only gripe with the whole parenthood thing here, has to be the lack of paid parental leave entitlement. Maternity leave is abysmal if you are a Mum and if you're a Dad? Forget it! Two weeks unpaid leave and that's your lot!!
Now, before anyone gets on their high horse and says, "Ah but you chose to have children," then yes, I did. But I would suggest that if it's down to an argument about choice, then surely the States are taking away that freedom of choosing to become a parent in the first place by not supporting parents in paying for adequate leave once their children are born?
Pictured: Becoming a parent when there is no adequate parental leave provision is not really a choice says Vicky.
They're directly disenfranchising single mothers or lower income parents who can't afford to take unpaid time off from work in order to have children, which means some people are forced to choose between having children, working full-time, or leaving work and putting a financial strain on their family. Many people can't afford to do so, which effectively robs them of making the choice to then become a parent.
If the States - ahem, Social Security Minister - could match parental leave of eligible employees, to that of the UK, mums and/or dads would have a decent amount of time off with their children and would become empowered by the choice as to when, within that first year, they want to return to work. Employers would benefit through worker retention. They, in turn, would have happier employees who have been given the choice as to when to come back - good maternity packages are always seen as a positive benefit. They make a saving in turnover rates as well as training costs in the long run and they become an employer of choice... Win-win for everyone surely? Oh, and then there’s the whole thing on flexible working but that’s another paragraph right there… To quote the CEO from Youtube, "Support for parenting shouldn’t be a matter of luck within business, it should be a matter of course."
The more mums I meet, the more I see that so many want to work but find it near on impossible because employers just won’t entertain offering flexible hours. There is a whole pool of talent out there sitting in playgroups, shopping around Co-op on double divvy day or chasing their little ones around the dinosaurs at Tamba and they want to work. But they also want to look after their family. They want to be there to pick up the kids from school or take them to the beach for a couple of hours before tea. The problem is the system.
Pictured: Through Mumspace, Vicky has met a lot of mums who haven't been able to find flexible work patterns.
Look how fast technology is changing the face of work. 9-5 won’t exist in 20 years’ time I’m sure of it. People want their lives back and to not be stuck in the grind. Give back to the employee and you get so much more in return. People are more focused and work harder if they feel valued and like they just simply have a bit of balance between earning and living. This isn’t just a thing for mums either- dads, grandparents or just someone who might want to finish at 16:00 everyday so they can walk the dog. Job sharing, part-time, reduced hours they’re not dirty words. I just wish employers would think a little more outside the box and see that it can and does work- just look at Scandinavia!
A bit of a controversial one potentially, but I love Sunday shopping in the UK. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not talking about working people to the bone and the start of shops being open everyday including Christmas, but there is something really nice about town on a Sunday where you can have a mooch and a coffee.
Pictured: "If I’m on my own, a Sunday round St Helier would be perfect," says Vicky.
Wait, I have two small children, so this relaxed strolling thing hasn’t happened for a few years... But if I’m on my own, a Sunday round St Helier would be perfect.
Bringing up our kids in Jersey has got to be the best decision we have made. I love the beaches, I love the summers, I love how geared towards family the island really is and it’s only going to get better as the kids get older and they are easier to take to places.
Pictured: Jersey beaches are great says Vicky but not so much on rainy days.
The one thing I wish we could have more of are things to do in the rain. I wish there was space for some sort of science museum or an interactive farmland type place…something just that little bit different, good for smaller children, oh and it should sell nice coffee.
Learn more about Vicky's experiences of motherhood by checking out the MumSpace Facebook page.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not those of Bailiwick Express.
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