End of an era: Working Families to close after 47 years supporting working parents and carers

Published: 4 Jun 2026

It is with great sadness that Working Families has made the decision to close the charity, following a sustained period of financial challenge and a comprehensive review of its future viability. 

Since 1979, Working Families has been a leading voice for working parents and carers across the UK. From the introduction of our free Legal Advice Service in 1999, to our policy and advocacy work and partnerships with employers, we have worked to remove the barriers faced by people balancing work and caring responsibilities.

This decision has been taken with great care, and with heavy hearts. It comes at a time when many charities are facing increasing pressure, with rising costs and shifting demand. While Working Families maintained strong income from trusts and foundations despite a challenging national landscape, wider external factors, including changes in employer demand and pressures on organisational budgets, have significantly affected the sustainability of our work.

We know this news will come as a shock, and a source of real sadness to many. Over the years, Working Families has supported millions of parents and carers, and has helped to shape the way the UK thinks about work and care.

Behind these figures are real lives and families. Our Legal Advice Service has supported people at some of the most challenging moments in their lives, helping them understand their rights, feel confident to act, and, in many cases, stay in work and secure the flexibility they need.

When we look back over the past four decades, and particularly the last 20 years, we are immensely proud of what Working Families has achieved. At a time when flexible working was far from the norm, and paternity leave was often framed as ‘helping the mother’, the organisation helped to challenge outdated assumptions and drive lasting change across workplaces, policy and public thinking.

There is still so much to do. But we know that the many organisations, partners and individuals we have worked alongside will continue to champion and drive positive change for working parents and carers in the years ahead.

Our priority now is to ensure that the charity winds down responsibly, treating everyone connected to it fairly and with respect, and preserving the legacy of the work we have been so proud to lead.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported Working Families over the years. Our staff team, trustees, partners, funders, employers, Changemakers and the many parents and carers who trusted us at moments that really mattered.

Our helpline and online contact form is now closed as we wind down our operations. Our free legal advice pages remain available and up to date until further notice. You can find a list of trusted organisations that may be able to help you below.