Organising conferences offers plenty of opportunity to come into contact with many types of people with many different opinions, especially when organising repeat events. The tendency is to meet the same people over and over again. Conversations ensue and delegates, speakers, exhibitors, etc feel like they can talk to you about anything.

One of the topics that seems to pop up time and again is how difficult it can be for a mother to attend a conference or an event, because of childcare limitations. Not everyone has the luxury of consistent childcare, and often times mothers have to cancel their place on a conference at the last minute. This is mainly due to being let down by their childcare provider.

I am asked many times by mothers at these events, why childcare is not provided. It’s a straightforward question, but the answer is not straightforward. The type of conference and the location play a very important role. For example, if the event is a residential conference over a number of days being held at a 4 or 5 star resort, then more than likely the resort will have a ‘kids club’ that the parents are responsible for booking.

Another option these residential conferences are offering is childcare provided by mobile childcare companies. With this alternative, conference organisers offer childcare provided by an external creche company. The creche will be on-site at the conference venue. They will fill a room with age appropriate toys and activities supervised by qualified childcare professionals. You can book your child into as many of the creche slots that you want. Pre-registering your child allows for a simple and stressfree way to drop off your child.

Theses creches can also be supported, which can make the creche complimentary to conference delegates. It’s a great way to sell sponsorship for an event.

Unfortunately, an on-site creche may be difficult to justify for one-day conferences, especially those being held during the work week. However, conferences that are held on weekends can suffer, because it can be very difficult for parents to find childcare.

The typical advocates for on-site creches are parents. Do they have a valid point?

As a conference organiser, it is not easy to disregard the complications ie legal issues, costs, insurance, etc. However, in this day and age, when positive family values seem to making a comeback, perhaps promoting family facilities at conferences and events can be seen as a new selling point. It seems to be working for the environment!