‘Deliver social care reform’

The election result is Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s opportunity to deliver on his promise to fix social care once and for all. We now have a crucial opportunity to address the deepening social care crisis. Whilst we welcome pledges for funding and promises that no one has to sell their home to pay for care, time and time again we have seen promises from politicians amount to nothing. The new government must prioritise social care and deliver a sustainable solution to address the funding crisis.

Successive governments’ failures to meaningfully reform social care has left the sector forced to survive on a string of emergency cash in

jections.

After years of inaction, our ageing population is rightly concerned. Whilst 89% of people think social care reform should be a priority for politicians, only 45% believe politicians recognise it as such.

Only by following through on its commitment to reform social care, can government restore public trust and provide peace of mind for today’s and tomorrow’s older people.

We demand that the promised cross-party solution for sustainable reform is delivered as an immediate priority. Our Programme for Change, shaped by older people’s experiences, sets out a tangible plan for reform. There is no excuse not to listen.

Jane Ashcroft, CBE Chief Executive of Anchor

Hanover

if their cat is injured or killed on the roads.

Before the General Election, the Government announced a call for evidence on cat microchipping in England, giving the public the chance to have their say on compulsory microchipping. This call for evidence is in addition to a pledge in the Conservative manifesto to “bring forward cat microchipping”.

With the call for evidence open until 4 January 2020, the public now only have three weeks left to respond on this important cat welfare issue.

To support Cats Protection’s campaign and send an e-letter to the Government about why microchipping cats is important, please visit www.cats.org.uk/microchipsreunite before 4 January 2020.

Jacqui Cuff Head of Advocacy & Government Relations

magazine articles. There are always challenges as well as joys at Christmas – can we afford it, will everyone get on and perhaps one of the trickier challenges parents face - managing children’s expectations of Christmas.

However, help is at hand! Here at Family Action, a charity that has supported families for 150 years, we have launched a special series of both light-hearted and serious online advice and blogs to help people prepare for Christmas and enable them to enjoy the festive season. Our advice and tips are available at www.family-action.org.uk/christmas.

Parents and carers of children and young people can also contact Familyline for free help and advice throughout the year on 0808 802 6666; familyline@family-action. org.uk or text 07537 404 282. Out of hours, a text service is available for those in crisis. To access the crisis text service only, callers should text FAMILYACTION to 85258.

We hope people find our advice useful and that it will help families to have a very Merry Christmas.

David Holmes CBE CEO, Family Action 34 Wharf Road London N1 7GR