Why This Matters

Too many mums in Ireland are forced to choose between their children and their independence. While women’s participation in the workforce has grown overall, care responsibilities remain one of the biggest barriers to work. 

• Caring responsibilities are a major barrier to work → Almost 3 in 10 women (29%) cite caring duties as the main reason they are not in paid employment.
  (Family Carers Ireland, “Gender Dimensions of Care”, 2021)

• Lack of flexibility drives women out of jobs → Over 60% of women in Ireland have either left or considered leaving their job due to inflexible work conditions.
  (Flexidus/LinkedIn Report, 2022 via ThinkBusiness.ie)

• Childcare costs are among the highest in Europe. Research shows that for every 10% increase in childcare costs, mothers worked 30 minutes less per week.
  (ESRI/Pobal, 2018) 

• Financial dependency increases vulnerability → More than 1 in 3 women (35%) in Ireland have experienced abuse from a partner, with financial dependence often making it harder to leave.
  (Women’s Aid, Annual Impact Report 2024)

• Domestic abuse is rising → In 2024, there were 46,765 disclosures of domestic abuse made to Women’s Aid the highest on record.
  (Women’s Aid Annual Impact Report, 2024)

When mums can’t access flexible work, the effects ripple through their families and communities.

• Financial stress at home
  When one parent is locked out of work, families lose income and stability. The Growing Up in Ireland study shows that families experiencing “economic vulnerability” (low income, joblessness, financial strain) face greater risks to children’s wellbeing and development.
  (Growing Up in Ireland, ESRI/Trinity, 2017)

• Childcare costs limiting opportunities
  Families in Ireland spend some of the highest childcare costs in Europe, often around 12% of disposable household income. This pushes many mothers to reduce working hours or step away from employment altogether.
  (Irish Times, 2018)

• Stress and mental health
  Financial strain and dependency can contribute to higher stress levels at home. International evidence consistently links parental financial stress to poorer child outcomes in education, health, and emotional wellbeing.

• Communities lose out
  When mums are sidelined, local communities lose valuable skills, leadership, and economic activity. Instead of contributing fully, many mothers remain underemployed or excluded, not by choice, but because work and family life don’t align.

At Mums Hub, we believe every mother deserves:

Community – supporting one another and growing together.
Dignity – through meaningful, fairly paid work.
Opportunity – to use her skills while being present for her children.

Our Solution is Simple but Powerful

Mums Hub Connections

A growing CV Library where mums from across Ireland can register their skills and availability.
Each mum receives an individual plan that helps identify local job opportunities, suitable training, or other pathways back to work.
This allows us to connect talented, motivated mums directly with employers who value reliability, flexibility, and community.

Upskilling Pathways

We collaborate with local education centres and training providers to link mums with free or low-cost courses that fit within school hours.
These opportunities help build confidence, refresh skills, and support a smoother return to work.

Community Support

Mums Hub is more than just a bridge to employment it’s a growing community of mothers supporting mothers.
We share resources, celebrate progress, and raise awareness about the need for flexible, family-friendly work in every community.

Our Vision

Within the next few years, we aim to employ 20 mums in-house at the Hub and connect many more with external employers through Mums Hub Connections.
Together, we’re creating a model that values community, dignity, and opportunity, one school-hour job at a time. 

Mums Hub is more than a project, it’s a movement for dignity, independence, and opportunity. But we can’t do it alone.

• If you’re a mum → join our CV Library and take the first step towards school-hour work that fits your life.

• If you’re a business → partner with us to access reliable, local talent and make a real difference in your community. Email info@mumshub.ie

• If you’re a supporter → share our mission, sign our Support Form, and help us show decision-makers how urgently mums and families need change.

Every CV submitted, every partnership made, and every signature collected brings us closer to a future where mums no longer have to choose between their children and their independence.

Together, we can make work work for mums.