The Department of Trade and Industry launched the Work-Life Balance campaign, with an accompanying Challenge Fund, in March 2000.The campaign aims to persuade employers to introduce ways of working which meet the needs of the business and customers while simultaneously improving the work-life balance of their employees. It is directed at employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors and intended to benefit all employees whether or not they have caring responsibilities.The Challenge Fund provides free consultancy support for private, public and voluntary employers who want to introduce and develop innovative, flexible and diverse working patterns or practices for the benefit of the organisations, employees and customers.