Dear MP,
I am writing as one of your constituents to invite you to get involved with and support the Care About Care campaign and to show your support for the social care sector, the people who use care services, and the 1.6 million people who work in social care.
Social care is an essential public service, yet it continues to be ignored and underfunded. Government funding amounts to as little as £7 per hour for care (based on the average weekly care home fee) – do you believe this is sufficient to support constituents who rely on these services?
Yet, social care is an incredibly important part of our economy, making a major contribution to every town and city. Social care contributes £78bn to the economy each year – that’s more than tourism, telecoms, and the entertainment industries. Moreover, that economic contribution is spread equally, with jobs created in every town and local people spending their wages in every high street.
For every £1 spent on adult social care in England, the sector generates £2.40 in wider socioeconomic value. Investing in social care shouldn’t be seen as a cost or challenge, but as a major driver of growth and economic opportunity for our constituency and every community.
What the Care About Care campaign wants to achieve
I am supporting the Care About Care campaign which is calling for action across three key priorities:
1. A pay rise for every care worker – by reversing the employer National Insurance increase and ringfencing the resulting employer savings to be redirected into wages, the Government can ensure every care worker gets an immediate pay rise. More money in their pockets means more money spent in our communities.
2. A fair cost of care – care services should be funded based on an independently calculated ‘fair cost of care’ building on the programme undertaken in 2023. This will further boost care worker pay, training opportunities, and the quality and availability of care for those who need it.
3. Keep care services British-owned – a new “British Care Fund” would invest in infrastructure upgrades to small, British-owned care services so they can continue to serve their local communities.
These asks are about stabilising and supporting the sector, the people who rely on it, and the care workforce while longer term Government policy, such as the Casey Commission and Fair Pay Agreement, are worked on and implemented.
YOUR TAILORED PARAGRAPH WILL BE ADDED HERE.
The risk of inaction
Despite the many challenges facing the sector, local care providers continue to deliver vital support, demonstrating resilience in the face of growing demand – but this is not sustainable without greater support from government.
The majority of care and support (c. 80%) is delivered by small businesses and charities rooted in their communities. They employ local people, pay UK taxes, and reinvest in the areas they serve. However, financial pressures are forcing some to close.
Around 10% of UK care homes are now owned by just one overseas investment company. Supporting local, UK-providers would help ensure care remains community focused, sustainable, and centred on the needs of those who rely on it – while also contributing to our economy and tax base.
Why current government policy isn’t enough
I know that the Casey Commission is underway and that the Government has committed to a Fair Pay Agreement for the sector – but these initiatives are too slow and too poorly funded. The Commission’s report is not due until 2028, and independent experts suggest it will take at least a decade to introduce a National Care Service, even if this timeline isn’t affected by future elections or changes in Government.
Meanwhile, the Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) has been given just £500m of funding – that’s 20p per hour per care worker – and won’t take effect for two more years. More shockingly, the effect of fiscal drag from frozen tax thresholds means care workers will collectively be around £1 billion a year worse off even after the FPA commences. Whilst welcome, these policies don’t go far enough, fast enough – we need more urgent action.
I would welcome your support for the campaign by raising these issues in Parliament in written questions or in relevant debates and supporting the campaign on social media. More information on the campaign can be found at carefuture.co.uk.
Yours sincerely,
Your Constituent
Important note for the recipient: The section titled “Why I Care About Care” is written by the individual sender, not by the Care About Care campaign. The campaign does not review, edit or endorse the content of this section. Any views, language or claims it contains are the sender’s own.