Bristol Transformed Childcare Caucus
What is the BT Childcare Caucus?
The Bristol Transformed Childcare Caucus is a group of Bristol-based activists who provide free childcare for meetings and events that align with the political values and program of Bristol Transformed. There is a core group of organisers, who decide which groups to work with, work with other organisers to plan childcare arrangements, and are responsible for childcare on the day. The core group is supported by a wider network of volunteers who help to provide childcare at the events.
You can get in touch with the childcare caucus at childcare@bristoltransformed.co.uk
Why are we doing this?
The BT Childcare Caucus is a socialist political project that believes that the provision of childcare is essential to enable and develop all activists, both parents and non-parents, and to make sure that kids have a wonderful time. We are inspired by a range of socialist, Marxist and feminist thinkers and activists, and we are not interested in any political project that doesn’t take social reproduction and childcare seriously.
History
The BT Childcare Caucus has evolved out of the free creche provided at Bristol Transformed since 2022, which was designed and led by Toni Mayo and Mike Williams, passionate about children and parents being included in political activity. They took part in the creation of “Crèche (of) Course”, a step-by-step guide on how to set up an ad-hoc creche, which helped us to develop our thinking about childcare in activist circles.
With Mike leaving for Cornwall, the BT Childcare Caucus was created to make sure that future Bristol Transformed festivals would have a top-notch creche but also to expand into providing childcare for other groups and events too. The Childcare Caucus has now successfully delivered creches at a number of political events, including events organised by the Bristol Apartheid-Free Zone.
Who are the BT Childcare Caucus Central Committee?
Toni Mayo
I am a children and families’ social worker, a trade union activist and revolutionary socialist. I grew up in a politically active family, at demonstrations, in trade union conferences, and boring meetings. My children are older (one is no longer a child), and I found ways to engage and occupy them too, when I could attend. Although childcare in unions is better quality for children now, I believe it is a service model that alienates rather than encourages participation, both of children and parents. I am inspired by the Bolshevik model of childcare (designed by Alexandra Kollontai) which demonstrated that for the working class to win, everybody has to be able to take part.
I have been active in Bristol Transformed since 2019, and have previously been a BT Committee member and the safeguarding lead.
I am a registered social worker. I am fully vetted myself, and understand safeguarding and communicating with children. I am undergoing paediatric first aid training, and can drive a minibus.
Ben Ralph
I am a Lecturer in Computer Science and currently serving as president of the University of Bath UCU trade union branch. I got involved with the creche at the May 2025 Bristol Transformed festival, and soon realised it was the best way to put into practice the socialist feminist politics that I had told everyone I was committed to. I love how the presence of creche transforms a meeting or event: not only does it mean that parents and carers can fully participate, but it also makes visible the reproductive labour that makes politics possible and creates a sense of play and fun that is so often missing from left spaces.
Carys Kettlety
I am an Early Years Educator, a qualified Early Years Teacher and a revolutionary socialist. I love working with children and believe in high quality universal free childcare and education, where children, families and workers are at the heart of provision. I am in the Bristol Transformed Childcare Caucus because I want parents to be able to access and contribute to political education and organising with no barriers while their children have a great time playing.
I have been active in Bristol Transformed since 2019 and I am a current BT committee member.
I am fully qualified in pediatric first aid.
Joel Hellewell
I volunteered at the Bristol Transformed creche in 2025 and found it to be the happiest, most good vibes area of the festival. To be able to transform our world we’re going to need everyone who can to pitch in. This will require us to remove barriers to people getting involved, of which childcare is a considerable one. I want to build a well run, enjoyable creche that benefits children, their parents, and the volunteers that help run it. I hope that we can put together a model of how the creche is run that can be copied by other activist organisations far and wide.