New organisation launched in support of Social Care Heroes

A new organisation has launched to recognise the 1.54 million people working in social care in the UK.

Support Social Care Heroes, launched by Nicola Richards – the Managing Director of Palms Row Health Care and Chair of the Sheffield Care Association – aims to recognise and honour the personal sacrifice and dedication that goes into social care work.

The organisation is currently undergoing the process to achieve charitable status, and aims to ‘preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care.’

SSCH stresses that the 1.54 million people working in social care is set to rise to 2.17m by 2035, and yet they say the workforce is often overlooked – working long hours and not achieving the recognition that they deserve. With the pandemic putting pressure on Social Care services, the organisation believes that support for these people is needed like never before.

Donations to the Support Social Care Heroes organisation will be used to support care workers to have a better work/life balance, improved resilience, less stress, eliminating chronic long-term illness whenever possible and retaining staff within the sector to help with the current staffing crisis.

The work the organisation set to do will be ‘person centred’ and they aim to host fun, wellbeing pilot programmes, eventually scaling those up to deliver for social care workers across the country. Nicola Richards, the founder of the organisation, says that whilst we are on a precipice in social care, Support for Social Care Heroes can be the bridge to a future ‘in which those who need care, and those caring for them, are valued by society.’

She goes on to comment: ‘The care sector loses its best people every week. Our organisation aims to end this revolving door for employees by bringing greater meaning to their role and supporting employers to make meaningful, long-term changes to their circumstances.

‘Our country’s social care heroes have been on the front line and in the headlines for over 18 months and, though there is more public recognition for the amazing work they do, they are overworked, underpaid and lacking support. While the sector continues to fight for fair wages and conditions for carers, Support Social Care Heroes aims to fill a gap by improving the wellbeing of these vital workers and show them that they are valued. It’s time to care for our social care heroes.’

Nadra Ahmed OBE, Executive Chair of the, National Care Association, added: ‘The passion with which Support Social Care Heroes is being launched as an innovative, led by providers, organisation demonstrates how invaluable our workforce is to us. Being able to do something tangible for them when they need it most feels positive. Caring about those who care for others is the right thing to do.’