Lobbying to change social care

Wednesday 01 February 2012

Hundreds of people will lobby the government to tell them that social care needs to change

On Tuesday 6 March, the Care and Support Alliance will hold a lobby day to tell the government that the social care system in England is in crisis.

The Care and Support Alliance is a consortium of over 50 organisations (including Mencap) that represent older and disabled people.

End the Care Crisis: Lobby 2012 will take place in London. Hundreds of people are expected to travel to the Houses of Parliament to join the lobby and put pressure on MPs from all parties. The message is clear – that the care system needs to change.

The government is expected to publish its white paper on social care reform social in April. The lobby has been organised to make sure that MPs don't miss the chance to change the social care system for the better – ensuring a fair and sustainable care system. The alliance says that failure to act now will lead to more cuts, neglect and abuse in social care, costing the economy and society even more in the long run.

As well as attending the lobby, the alliance is also urging people to contact their MPs to tell them why social care is important to them and why it is important that social care reform happens.

Rossanna Trudgian, a Mencap senior campaigns and policy officer, said: “We want people to join the lobby this March, or to make an appointment with their MPs. Social care just isn’t on the map for many politicians, but you can help to change this.”

Register to attend End the Care Crisis: Lobby 2012

Mencap’s is also asking people with a learning disability, their families and carers to tell us how government cuts are affecting their day services. Take the survey here