Why We Chose to Stand Up for Social Care

At AshwellCare, our purpose is simple, deeply human, and at the heart of everything we do: Not to add years to life, but to add life to years.

Last year, Emily and I attended Providers Unite events in both London and Liverpool on behalf of Ashwell. These were not just sector gatherings. They were powerful moments of unity, honesty, and shared determination across social care.

As a family based care provider, we believe leadership means showing up, listening closely, and speaking truthfully about the realities facing care today. Providers Unite gave us the opportunity to do exactly that.

Reframing the Story of Social Care

One of the strongest messages shared through Providers Unite is that social care is too often misunderstood. Social care is not the weakest link in our nation’s wellbeing. It is the foundation. It supports independence, dignity, and community life, yet remains undervalued and too frequently invisible

Care does not simply look after people. It helps people live the lives they want, in their own homes, with purpose and connection. That reflects what we see every day at Ashwell. When care is delivered with compassion and consistency, it restores confidence, builds trust, and strengthens lives.

Speaking Up in London: Engaging With Our MP

While attending the London event, Emily and I also took the step of greencarding our local MP, Tom Collins. We spoke directly about the very real challenges providers are facing: workforce pressures, rising costs, and the growing strain placed on services trying to deliver high quality care under tightening financial conditions.

Our intention was not confrontation. It was understanding.

We want political leaders, including the Labour Party, to truly listen to the voices of providers, carers, and the people receiving care. Social care cannot be reformed from a distance. It must be shaped by those delivering and relying on it every day.

Emily’s Reflection: Why This Mattered So Much

For Emily, attending Providers Unite was about something deeper than being present at an event. It was about giving voice to a sector that too often feels unheard.

As she shared:

Social care is a fundamental pillar of society. When it is funded properly, the knock on effects are huge. The NHS is better supported, families are better supported, and people can live with dignity at home. Yet it can feel like no one truly cares about that. We are caring for elderly people, the people who have worked all their lives to build our society. They deserve better. Why can’t we be funded enough to give back to people who have given so much to us?

For her, Providers Unite represented a moment of truth:

That is why I went. Because sometimes it feels like we have to shout just to be listened to. And even then, the sector is still fighting to be seen.

Her words capture why this movement matters. Not because providers want attention, but because the people who rely on care cannot afford for social care to remain invisible.

Philip’s Reflection: Social Justice and the Forgotten Role of Care

For Philip, attending Providers Unite was also about a wider principle: social justice.

This government often speaks about the pressures facing the NHS, and rightly so. But too often, social care is left out of that conversation, despite the fact that good social care is one of the most effective ways to reduce hospital admissions and support timely discharge. Social care is not separate from the NHS. It is one of the foundations that allows the health system to function.

Philip also reflected on the growing strain placed on providers:

Providers are being pushed to survive under increasing wage demands and rising costs, while local councils are often not paying, or simply not able to pay, a reasonable fee that reflects the true cost of delivering high quality care.

Politicians may say they understand, but many providers do not feel the reality is fully recognised. That is why giving this sector a voice is so important.

Care Should Be a Right, Not a Privilege

At both events, we stood alongside others in the sector not just as attendees, but as advocates.

One moment that stayed with us deeply was carrying a banner with a message that captured the heart of why Providers Unite exists:

Care should be a right, not a privilege.

That statement reflects everything we believe at AshwellCare.

Care is not something people should only receive if the system happens to have enough funding left, or if families can afford to fill the gaps. It is a fundamental part of a fair and compassionate society. This is why we are part of this movement. Because social care must be recognised, valued, and funded in a way that allows every person to live with dignity, independence, and support.

Moving Forward With Purpose

Although these events took place last year, the messages remain deeply relevant today.

Social care delivers enormous social and economic value, yet continues to operate under immense pressure. At AshwellCare, we will continue to listen, speak up when needed, and lead with our values, because the future of care depends on honesty, shared understanding, and meaningful action.

Because when care is valued, people flourish.

And when providers unite, care becomes stronger.