Social care Day of Action hailed a great success

ICG Chair Mike Padgham has hailed a Day of Action calling for urgent support for social care as a great success.

And he has urged the Government to respond by bringing forward reform. Mr Padgham said: “This was an overwhelming show of support for action and sent a very clear message to the Government that we cannot wait any longer for reform. “The numbers and the emotions on show demonstrated a real depth of feeling and desire for things to change.” Mr Padgham joined ICG Board members from Scarborough, York and Harrogate at the national Day of Action in London. “The ICG was proud to be a part of the Day of Action and hope it helps bring about long-awaited change,” added Mike.

“This was about giving a voice to people who rely on social care and those who provide it. “What we want to see now is the Government respond, to bring forward social care reform and to properly fund the sector so that we can get care to the 2m people who currently can’t get it and pay staff properly for the amazing work they do.

“We need to see some action, especially in the light of reports that the start of cross-party talks on social care has been delayed. It speaks volumes that politicians can’t even make a start on talking about reform, let alone taking action. Social care deserves better.”

The day of action, organised by Providers Unite, a coalition of social care representatives, attracted protesters to a march in Westminster. It called 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. Campaigners want the Government to make social care providers, including hospices, exempt from the National Insurance increase or make more funding available to help social care providers meet rising costs. The song ‘Who Cares? ’co-written by ICG Marketing Executive Brian Johnson and performed by co-writer, Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine was performed during the day of action.

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