Care England Parliamentary Reception Wrap Up 2026

Care England was delighted to host its annual Parliamentary Reception last week, marking the launch of our landmark report, The Power of Care: The System Behind the Society, produced in partnership with PLMR. Once again, we were privileged to gather in the elegant surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace at the House of Lords, a fitting setting for a conversation of such national importance.  

The event was generously sponsored by our partners Everywhen, who also took the occasion to launch their new series, Portraits of Care: Care Through My Eyes. At a time when the voice of care has never been more important, this campaign shines a light on the real experiences of those who live and work in the sector, capturing the moments that matter and helping to shift the narrative around care. Through shared personal stories, Portraits of Care brings human experience to the forefront, deepening public understanding of what social care truly means, a natural complement to the day’s themes. 

We owe particular thanks to our host, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff. As a Professor of Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University School of Medicine, Baroness Finlay brings both academic rigour and genuine personal commitment to the social care cause, and her continued championing of the sector in Parliament makes her an invaluable ally. 

Events like this one serve a vital purpose: bringing together care providers, academics, and parliamentarians under one roof to reinforce just how central social care is to the fabric of our society, not only for the people it serves, but for the opportunities it creates. As Nathan Hollow of PLMR put it with striking clarity, “adult social care is not a peripheral service, it is a central national infrastructure.” That statement captures the spirit of the report, and the ambition behind it. 

Baroness Finlay set a powerful tone in her address, reminding attendees that empowering social care is an investment in the whole population, one that has historically been undervalued, underrecognised, and taken for granted. She made the point simply and compellingly: if we do not look after those who provide care, how can we expect them to look after others? 

Professor Martin Green echoed this sentiment with characteristic warmth, reminding the room that “social care is about the people we support and the amazing people who provide that support.” His message was one of collective responsibility, social care touches all of us, which is precisely why we must get it right. The report, he reflected, offers not just analysis but a genuine route map towards a better future for the sector. 

This sense of optimism ran through Nathan Hollow’s own reflections on the report’s purpose. His goal is to place social care on a stronger footing, and to help the sector become louder and prouder in making its case. Drawing on his personal experience of care, Nathan spoke movingly about the profound difference a single care worker can make to a person’s life. Too often, public discourse around adult social care is dominated by doom and gloom, a narrative that will never win hearts and minds. As he put it, “we need to constantly speak about the potential and opportunities that social care will deliver for the nation.” 

Before guests moved on to afternoon tea and networking, the event produced a wonderful and unexpected moment. Chief Nurse of Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, presented Professor Martin Green and Care England’s Chief Executive and Social Care Adviser, Richard Ayres, with the Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Award, recognition of their exceptional and distinguished contributions to the sector. It was a well-deserved tribute, warmly received by all in the room. Reflecting on the honour, Richard said: “Almost all of us will come into contact with social care at some point in our lives, and it is beyond a privilege to work with our members to help people live the way they want to live, whether in the community or in residential care.” 

The mood throughout the afternoon was one of cautious but genuine hope. Despite the very real pressures facing the sector, the gathering was a reminder of just how much expertise, passion, and goodwill exists, and of what becomes possible when those voices come together. We are grateful to everyone who attended, and to those who sent their support from afar. 

Adult social care must be a priority, for politicians, for the public, and for all of us. Events like this one exist to make that case, and to ensure it is heard. 

To read The Power of Care: The System Behind the Society, please click here. 

To share your own story to “Portraits of Care” and download prompt cards, question sheets, and a poster, visit here.