Push for Paternity Leave

We’re taking prams (and parents) to the streets!

During Equal Parenting Week, join us in Nottingham for Push for Paternity Leave - a family-friendly walk calling for better paternity leave and more equal parenting from day one for UK families.

Hosted by Nottingham Working Mums Network as part of a national day of action during Equal Parenting Week, this peaceful walk brings parents together to raise awareness of how the UK’s parental leave system impacts families.

While we’re especially encouraging dads, father figures and non birthing parents to come with prams, this walk is for all parents and allies.

Mums, dads, co parents, carers, grandparents and supporters are all welcome, whether your children are babies, teens or all grown up.

This is a peaceful, inclusive, family-friendly walk pushing for policies and cultures that support shared care from day one.

Why now?

Families across the UK are struggling with unequal care loads, limited flexible working and one of the least supportive parental leave systems in Europe.

💡 • Mothers do around 60% more unpaid childcare and lose an average of £65,000 within five years of their first child
💡 • 88% of the gender pay gap is linked to the motherhood penalty
💡 21% of dads have been asked “where’s your wife?” after requesting flexible working
💡 • 1 in 5 dads take no paternity leave at all, often because they cannot afford to

This isn’t about individual choices. It’s about systems, policies and workplace cultures that see childcare as “women’s work”. It means mums are often forced to take on the vast majority of childcare and dads are stuck in the narrow providing role.

The system isn’t working for families.

The Government is currently undertaking a parental leave review. This concludes in early 2027 so we need to keep the pressure on as this will likely be the last chance we have to improve statutory paternity leave rights in our lifetime.

At Push for Paternity Leave, we’ll be asking for paternity leave to be increased to 6 weeks paid at 90% of salary. Research has found this could reduce the gender pay gap by 4 percent and deliver £2.6 billion to the wider economy.

What to expect:

• A gentle family friendly walk around Victoria Embankment
• Short speeches from parents and local voices
• Photo and media moments
• Time to connect afterwards

Bring your prams, babies, children and allies. Let’s show that Nottingham believes in equal parenting.
Practical Information:
We will meet on Saturday 2 May 2026 at 12pm at the Nottingham War Memorial in Memorial Gardens, Victoria Embankment, NG2 2AA before setting off for the walk.

• The walk will be gentle and suitable for prams.
• Toilet facilities and baby changing facilities are available nearby.
• Please dress for the weather and bring anything you need for little ones.

Push for Paternity Leave is brought to you nationally by and , with support from organisations championing better outcomes for parents and families across the UK.

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