Brandon Trust’s Post

To fix social care, or not? We speak on behalf of the frail elderly and disabled, a rapidly growing number. We also speak as to caring for others, which is why we came into social care. The government knows the problem, knows the cost and solutions, but avoids them. It's no only done nothing to address the challenges, worse still, it's made policy decisions that will directly reduce care quality, care provision and in an increasing number of cases, any care at all, which will have catastrophic consequences. Why have a Care Act to support people if it's ignored. Why have a cost of care exercise if it's ignored. Why have a regulator if it's ignored. Our system is riddled with contradictions, anachronisms and hypocrisy. Worst of all, as a society, it seems the government is content that we are just caring less and less. Inflation alone (not levels of dependency, complexity or even expectation), which are probably higher still), between 2010 to 2024 was circa 75.6% in 14 years (ave c5.0%). (Hargreaves Lansdown - although different Matrix vary from 53% to 75.6%). In 2010, there were 1.4 million people in the UK aged 85 and over; this number will be 2.3 million next year (ONS) (circa 64%) in 15 years (average 4.26% p.a.). The average now, in residential care, is invariably into the 90's. Yet Local Authority social care expenditure only increased by a paltry circa £2.7m between 2010/11 and 2022/23, just circa a 12.3% increase in 12 years, average 1% p.a. People denied care is rising, a number stated to be near 2m currently, and set to get dramatically worse.

New Pro Bono Economics report for the Children's Charities Coalition shows children's social care services have reached tipping point. The analysis found that early intervention spending on children’s social care has dropped by almost half since 2010/11. For the first time, more is being spent on residential care placements than the entire early intervention budget. Years of decline in spending on early intervention services such as children’s centres and family hubs has left families without crucial early help. This means that too often, families are in crisis and growing numbers of children are entering care. As supporters of #ChildrenAtTheTable, we’re calling for more funding and investment to turn the tide: https://bbc.in/3Ze2TSZ

Harriet Oppenheimer: How can freedom from profit motives and political constraints help charities tackle complex challenges in ways others can't? CEO of RNID explains in her #CharityReformGroup #ForcesForGood essay here: https://lnkd.in/er-Y36D6 Read the full report Forces for Good and essay collection here: https://lnkd.in/eGkWrDcb

Delighted to see ITV Central covering the results of important research undertaken by The Centre for Social Justice sponsored by my family’s charitable Foundation. Well done to Sophia Worringer, CSJ’s Deputy Policy Director, for talking about the issues facing young people in the region so succinctly. My family commissioned CSJ to complete this work to ensure that our Foundation’s funding is as impactful as possible and it’s great to see this insightful research getting more exposure. CSJ engaged with local schools, charities and employers to understand the biggest issues that young people have to deal with in the region. Some key takeaways from CSJ were: • Over half of young people in the West Midlands are living in relative poverty. • The most vulnerable young people aren’t necessarily the poorest. • Birmingham City Council should consider ringfencing funds for vulnerable young people. As part of The Rigby Foundation’s strategy to focus efforts on young people in the West Midlands we will be working with a number of local secondary schools and charities. I look forward to sharing more details over the coming months. #RigbyFoundation #CSJResearch #ITVWestMidlands:

👋🏽According to a new report published by The Centre for Social Justice, 79% of UK adults agree that small, local, charities seem to be often overlooked and under-resourced. ❌Whilst the work that we do at Purple Shoots is vast and expansive, making a big impact in communities up and down the UK, we cannot continue to make a difference that matches the level of need for our services without financial backing. 📖Over the next few days, we'll be sharing stats from this report which shows the very urgent need to support small, local charities to be seen and resourced and the impact that being ignored has on the people who need our help the most. 💷To read more about the work that we do and to donate to Purple Shoots on a monthly basis, head to: https://lnkd.in/gHC4FPWe 👀You can read the report in full by heading to https://lnkd.in/eXVbSDf5

🏘 Cuts to early intervention services have doubled the number of children in residential care from 2011 to 2023. 🚧 💸 "The report [created by 5 children's charities] found that since 2010/11 the amount councils in England spent on early intervention services almost halved – from £4bn to £2.2bn in 2022/23." ⚠️ "But the report says this increase in expenditure “is not leading to improved outcomes for the children and families the system support”. #EarlyIntervention #ChildrensServices #ChildrensCharity #YouthJustice #ResidentialCare #ChildProtection

All week we're sharing resources for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. A Brief Guide to Measuring Loneliness is guidance for small charities & social enterprises, to support measures in evaluations. 📖 Download the resource at https://bit.ly/3ye8CwX #Befriending #MomentsForMovement

The #CivilSocietyCovenant represents time for positive change and great potential between charities and public bodies. But history tells us that the Covenant must embrace inclusion and real, practical ways of working : https://lnkd.in/eKG7WtiK

Almost two-thirds of people want to see more government funding for charities, finds survey: In the run-up to the Autumn Budget, almost two-thirds of people (64%) across the political spectrum want to see more funding from the government for charities, a survey has found.

We can all see the impact of local government having less funding in our local communities - whether it be in education, social care or simply the number of potholes in our roads. More councils than ever have had to issue s114 notices (effectively insolvency notices), and there are warnings that more are likely to have to do so over coming months. Councils fund a network of companies and charities in support of their objectives, and the above will have a significant effect on many of those organisations. In the attached article my colleagues review the wider effects on many stakeholders. Early advice and engagement is key to seeking the best outcome for stakeholders - and being an ostrich is no defence! If in doubt seek advice from experienced and qualified advisors. #localgovernmentfinance #charities #dontbeanostrich