ICG Chair's final rallying call to support Day of Action

Independent Care Group Chair Mike Padgham has issued a final rallying call to everyone to get behind next week’s day of action.

Mr Padgham says Tuesday’s march offers a vital opportunity to send a strong message to the Government that social care needs urgent help.“We have suffered for more than 30 years and Tuesday offers us the opportunity to say enough is enough, people who rely on social care and those who deliver it deserve much, much better,” said Mr Padgham, Chair of the social care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG).“I hope that in whatever way they can, people get behind the day of action and send a very clear signal that things need to change and the Government needs to urgently bring forward social care reform.”The day of action has been called to urge the Government to review the impact the proposed increase in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and rise in the National Living Wage will have on social care. It is being organised by Providers Unite, a coalition of social care representatives. They expect between two thousand and three thousand people to attend. This will include a range of providers and staff from across Yorkshire.Mr Padgham, who is Executive Chairman of Saint Cecilia’s Care Group and Director Aaron Padgham will be representing the social care company and the ICG at the march in London.

Some staff from Saint Cecilia’s Care Group will gather at Saint Cecilia’s Nursing Home in Scarborough at 11am on Tuesday to stage their own demonstration in support of the day.

Mike Padgham said: “With all the cost increases coming, care providers are facing a struggle to survive this spring.

“Without some Government help we may well lose more providers and the number of people going without care will grow from the 2m it already is.”

Campaigners want the Government to review the budget measures, make social care providers exempt from the rise in National Insurance or to put more funding into the sector to help them cope with rising costs.

The day of action takes place on Tuesday, 25th February. More details: https://www.providersunite.co.uk/

iCG song to be sung in Westminster.

Songwriters Boo Hewerdine and Brian Johnson

On 25th February 2025, thousands of social care workers, providers, and supporters from across the UK will converge on Westminster for a ‘Day of Action’ – a march to demand urgent reform for social care. It’s their belief this is their moment to stand up for a fair, sustainable system that values both the workforce and those receiving.

The #ProvidersUnite ‘Day of Action’  will be calling on the Government to review the impact the proposed increase in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and rise in the National Living Wage will have on social care.

Event organisers #ProvidersUnite, a coalition of social care representatives, have adopted charity song ‘Who Cares?’ as an anthem and rallying cry. The song and video, co-written and produced by Glusburn-based Brian Johnson of the Independent Care Group, is being used to promote the event and the song will be performed live at Westminster, on the day, by Ivor Novello-nominated singer Boo Hewerdine, co-writer of the song.

“We’re really proud our little song has been so embraced by the care community,’ said Brian. ‘We hoped it would shine a little light on such an invaluable and often overlooked workforce, so having it part of such an historic event is amazing.’ 

#ProvidersUnite are also urging those attending the march to learn the words and sing along (there is a ‘Lyric Video’ available online to help them learn, as well as a ‘Sing-a-long’ sheet that can be downloaded).

“This song isn’t just about carers, it’s about all of us who rely on social care,” say Providers Unite. “The song speaks directly to the heart of the care sector. It’s a message of unity, strength, and the need for reform.”

‘I would have loved the choir that performed on the single – Sing Out! South Craven from Glusburn – to back Boo at Westminster, but budget and logistics proved difficult,’ said Brian. ‘However, I’m hoping the thousands of people expected to join the march will come armed with a lyric sheet and sing along.’

The single, which is available on all streaming services and can be purchased here: https://thecareworkerscharity.bandcamp.com/track/who-cares , is raising money for The Care Workers’ Charity. Watch the video here: www.independentcaregroup.co.uk

'Work with us on delayed discharges', says ICG

The Independent Care Group is today calling on the Government to work with them to urgently tackle the issue of people stuck in hospital because there is no care available to them if they are discharged.

Figures show that more than 14,000 people are fit enough to be discharged from hospital but cannot leave, often because there are no social care packages available.

The ICG says this has to be tackled quickly and cannot wait until the results of the upcoming commission on social care.

ICG Chair, Mike Padgham said: “This frightening figure shows just how vital it is that we reform social care quickly, because the system is grinding to a halt.

“We have to work together to make more social care available so that there are packages available and people can be discharged from hospital and looked after where they should be – either at home or in a care or nursing home.

“In some cases that would mean tackling bureaucratic and funding logjams that get in the way when there is capacity. I can’t believe that after 30 years we are still saying the same things – it's madness.

“The social care sector has the experience, knowledge and expertise to work with the Government to find solutions and we are ready, willing and able to help.

“The Government accepts that it cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care and that the sector has been under-funded – we need to address those things now.”

He said social care reform couldn’t wait until the results of the commission into social care. The commission will report in mid-2026 then again in 2028.

“We need to move more quickly,” Mr Padgham added. “A day of action is planned for 25th February and that shows the strength of feeling in social care right now. The sector is worried. Without Government help, the combined impact of increases in the Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage could be devastating on a sector that is already on its knees. It could mean more people going without care.”