Wow — what a day.
I have been meaning to connect with Social Care Future for some time — as I’ve been watching them grow and build and it’s so fab to have the opportunity to attend their 2024 Annual conference was all about building people power — one of my favourite things too — and Ageable’s too.
We kicked off by Anna Severwright said something truly important and so important we must hear it and listen. The people in rooms like this are buzzing:
‘I’m so tired of being brought into one room to share the problems we face are — then see everyone go into another room to fix them without us.’ — Anna Severwright
There is a scream for true co-production — being a part of things that matter to all of us. It felt such a power in that room — I felt like you had such a diverse range of people doing fascinating and ordinary things. It felt so warm and powerful getting together.
Highlights from my day was a morning listening to Andrew Harrop from The Fabian Society and the conversations that Martin Routledge has been advising the government on social care with government. His report on ‘Expensive and Unequal: The case for reforming pension tax relief’ was discussed.
Their was an interesting discussion about the proposed National Care Service and the importance of coproduction in its design, as the community has fears about this proposal which sound good but has the potential to bring all the bureaucracy and process like the NHS. We gathered ideas from people about what that should look like in practice and how to make it happen. Lots of frustrations about the state of pay for carte staff and the importance of joy in their own lives.
One of these was to create our own set of spaces where we can come together collectively and help to shape the future dreams of the social care space. in a way that feels equal and do it ourselves — If there is an opportunity to help with this in some way then I’d love to help.
As a movement there are growing frustrations to be part of true collaboration. There is a shared frustration among people they are tired of being asked what they think in such a one way set up where people don’t have the capacity to do things together.
Tricia from Gloriously Ordinary Lives reminded us to connect with their mundane + heart sing moments means you life matters.
‘What are the mundane things that make our hearts sing?’ This is such a beautiful question for us all to take with us in our lives.
— Tricia Nicoll from Gloriously Ordinary Lives
This could be anything like putting the bins out, mowing the lawn, those gloriously ordinary moments of our lives that hen you put them together they really make up our lives. I’m on a special search right now for mine:
So far mine are:
- Walking in rustly leaves.
- Writing Letters.
- Being with friends.
- Getting lost somewhere new.
- Swimming in seas.
- Mealtimes as a family cooking for each other.
Tricia is running training around her Approach which inside 5 tests that you can sign up to through her website, and I’d thoroughly recommend.
A big dollop of gratitude to everyone at Social Care Future, for putting it on and facilitating it in such a fab and inclusive way. Can’t wait to see what happens next — I’d love to help in any way I can. I was especially impressed by the groups to do things on ‘our terms, and in our ways that are going to be equal and actually just do it with us ‘— if I can help as an Allie — please do reach out if I can help with shaping what we want government to be doing.
Lovely to see Nick Sinclair from Community Catalysts! Thanks for the intros to — Sian Lockwood & Angela Catley the mischief behind ‘When I get Old ‘— I can’t wait to speak to you to hear all about it! I did sadly loose my sketchbook that day — so I’m trying to dig into my brain to remember who I spoke to and wanted to continue our nattering and if your not on this list then make sure to drop me an email. Also fab surprise to see the Care City crew — Emily Brook and Rachel Fuller!
