In the UK parents can often spend up to 20% of their income on childcare.

This immense financial strain can lead to parents feeling like they might as well not go back to work after parental leave since it doesn't make financial sense.

Care Club is a service trying to make the option to go back to work more tenable by using a cooperative model to lower childcare costs. At the heart of the service is the creation of a mini childcare economy which runs on “care credits”. Care credits can be earned by various means such as donating time to assist with collective childminding or donating outgrown baby clothes. Care credits can then be used to obtain help with your childcare needs.

By creating this credit system the service promotes mutual aid and support that for social rules could not be bought with money (you would not pay your friend to babysit your child), but for which the goodwill exists (”mommy blogs” and forums are a huge repository of free mutual support and advice).

With Chris Jeffries and Boyoung Lee.