On Tuesday, 25th February 2025, Caring Hands proudly joined over 3,000 social care providers in Westminster for the first-ever Providers Unite march. Maria, Karen, Denise, and Katelyn represented Caring Hands in this powerful demonstration, demanding urgent action to address the ongoing crisis in social care.
Providers Unite is a grassroots coalition uniting community care and support providers across the UK. For too long, social care has been overlooked, underfunded, and pushed into the long grass, leaving the sector at breaking point. With the Government’s proposed reforms delayed until 2028 following Louise Casey’s review, action is needed now to ensure the survival of vital care services.
A Day of Action and Advocacy
The team had an early start, boarding the coach with placards in hand, ready to make their voices heard. Our Lion King meme placard was a huge success, drawing attention from fellow protesters and media alike. We were delighted to meet Tamsin, the talented creator of the meme, who had come along to support the cause.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere was filled with energy and determination. We marched to the Houses of Parliament, and took part in the process of ‘green carding’ our local MPs – formally requesting meetings to discuss the issues facing the social care sector. We queued for two hours to submit these requests and have successfully secured a meeting with one of our three MPs on 28th March.
Media Coverage and Raising Awareness
The plight of social care received significant media coverage on the day. Maria and Karen were interviewed by Meridian News, highlighting the stark realities facing our sector: years of inadequate funding from central Government, local authority fee increases failing to keep pace with rising National Minimum Wage costs, and the financial strain caused by the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget National Insurance hikes – none of which have been offset by additional funding. These critical concerns were featured on both the tea-time and evening news, ensuring our message reached a wider audience.
Standing Together for Change
This march was more than just a protest – it was a powerful statement of unity and resolve. We stood side by side with providers and individuals from across the country, demonstrating that social care is one sector with one voice. We will not be ignored.
As we continue our fight for a fairer, more sustainable future for social care, we encourage everyone, providers, carers, families, and service users, to support our mission. Change will only come if we stand together and demand it.
This was a historic day for social care, but it is just the beginning. We will keep pushing forward because who cares? WE CARE.
#ProvidersUnite #ValueSocialCare #WhoCaresWeCare #SocialCareCrisis #FundSocialCare #CareWorkersMatter