The protest, branded the “Backbone Of Care Walk”, will begin at 11:30am and marks the second major mobilisation this year by Providers Unite, a grassroots campaign group representing care home and home care operators.
Organisers say the action is designed to send a clear message to political leaders that the social care system, long described as the “backbone” of the NHS and community wellbeing, is on the brink.
Three Demands For Reform
Following consultation with providers nationwide, Providers Unite has crystallised three central demands:
- No Further Financial Burden: The Chancellor must not impose additional direct costs on the sector in the 26 November Autumn Statement.
- Ring Fenced Fair Pay Agreement: The Treasury should guarantee that 100 percent of the funds allocated for the Social Care Fair Pay Agreement reach employers of care staff rather than being lost in bureaucracy or commissioning gaps.
- Put People At The Centre: Future reforms must prioritise those who use care, unpaid carers and the workforce delivering it.
The campaign has been fuelled by widespread concern over the financial sustainability of providers. The government’s recent announcement of a 6.7 percent rise in the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour, while welcomed by workers, has left many operators warning that rising costs and tax changes could push services to breaking point. Providers Unite says that without urgent intervention, the wellbeing of more than 1.2 million people who rely on community care could be at risk.
Mounting Political Pressure
Momentum behind the campaign has grown rapidly, with more than 125 organisations writing to the Chancellor, Health Ministers and shadow ministers urging Labour’s Rachel Reeves to reconsider budget measures.
Ahead of the Liverpool conference, Providers Unite is intensifying lobbying efforts in the North West, seen as a key power base for Labour. The group is targeting MPs including Lisa Nandy (Wigan), Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester Mayor), and several Liverpool representatives such as Maria Eagle, Kim Johnson, Dan Carden, Paula Barker and Ian Byrne. Providers across the region are being equipped with template letters and resources to press their case directly to local representatives.
Recognition Respect And Money
In a statement to supporters, Providers Unite praised the resilience of care workers while calling for political recognition of their contribution.
“Your courage and perseverance in demanding that social care and support be given the recognition, respect, and money it desperately needs is inspiring,” the campaign said. “The work you do often in the background is vital to the NHS and to the wellbeing of so many people who rely on our support.”
To coincide with the conference, the group has also released a short documentary, which it describes as both “a love letter to the care and support community, but also a line in the sand to our Prime Minister.”
