Westminster Advisers 'Save Childcare Vouchers' campaign wins the 2010 PRCA Public Affairs Award.
The award-winning campaign saw Westminster Advisers working on behalf of the four largest providers of childcare vouchers in the UK, to co-ordinate a campaign of political, media and public pressure against the government’s decision to withdraw tax relief worth approximately £1,800 per year to working families.
The award recognises the success achieved by the campaign, which resulted in the Government performing a ‘U-turn’ on its decision to withdraw the tax relief, within three months of its initial announcement. The campaign, between October and December 2009, secured public support from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. It generated 94,000 supporters on a Downing Street e-petition and sparked a mini rebellion by nine former government ministers.
As a result of the campaign, the government committed to retaining tax relief for childcare vouchers at the basic rate of tax for all users, saving an essential financial support for families with young children and an indispensible recruitment and retention tool for employers.
Westminster Advisers Managing Director Dominic Church said: “We are delighted to have won the Public Affairs Award at this year’s PRCA Awards. It is an honour to receive recognition for the success of our childcare vouchers campaign which, through employing a mix of political, media and stakeholder relations, retained an important benefit for working families.”
The award was announced at the 2010 PRCA Awards, held on the 26th October at London’s Park Lane Hilton.