In the first of a 'See the possibilities' series of blogs, @alexfoxshared.bsky.social CEO at Community Catalysts, calls for us to be more ambitious about how we plan for and use Direct Payments, to improve people’s lives and save money www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/2026/04/16/a...
"Leadership isn’t about job titles, seniority or experience. It’s about how we choose to show up for ourselves, for others, and for the communities we serve." Dalanya Morris from Sutton Primary Care Network shares her learning from our New Social Leaders programme https://loom.ly/arRpBGY
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Social Investment Impact Report shows that the Community Micro-enterprise Development Programme made a £3.15 saving for every £1 spent. We’re delighted to see the social value of the project highlighted in the report. Read more https://loom.ly/wkb9NFs
When social workers are aware of the community micro-enterprises in their local area that can offer personalised, flexible care, the impact can be enormous. Emily was introduced to the Community Micro-enterprise Development Programme in Cheshire that changed Pat's life 👉 https://loom.ly/TPabrUw
Our partnership with Oxfordshire County Council has resulted in a new two-year contract extension that will focus on West Oxfordshire, where there is an increased demand for community‑based support, particularly among older residents in rural areas. Read the news release https://loom.ly/Lt7VkBI
Thanks to everyone who is #CelebratingSocialCare with us 🎉
In our latest article we share good news stories from across social care, including a special birthday celebration, an inspirational music band and a community garden party.
https://bit.ly/3PI0NIB
Our Community Micro-enterprise Programme in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council is helping small businesses flourish and is changing lives with personalised care and support! The project has been in the news this month 👉 https://loom.ly/_89I1DE #CelebratingSocialCare
Michael joined the New Social Leaders programme because he wanted fresh perspectives, space to step back from the day‑to‑day delivery, and the chance to learn from people who face similar neighbourhood‑level challenges across different roles and sectors. Find out more https://loom.ly/B9E9wI4
Community micro-enterprises we support often go from strength to strength and have a far greater impact in their local areas than ever imagined! Music24 is one such enterprise in Hertfordshire that is now running a countrywide training project on using music in dementia care https://loom.ly/v-CmVsE
Harrogate, where Community Catalysts has our base, looking lovely in the cold late winter sun. Great to spend the day with two @commcats.bsky.social chief execs: Pip Cannons and founder Sian Lockwood for handover and reflection
How do we ensure the vision for neighbourhood health becomes a reality, not just a slogan? On the back of our recent Neighbourhoods for Living Well event, @alexfoxshared.bsky.social talks about the practical ways we can put the vision into action www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/2026/03/25/n...
Our Neighbourhoods for Living Well event brought people together to hear about innovative solutions available to help build strong neighbourhoods where people can live a good life. @alexfoxshared.bsky.social shared his take on the event and what's possible to support good neighbourhoods and lives.
Tom Richards of @commcats.bsky.social welcomes 50 Local Area Coordinators in the North and Midlands to our regular gathering. Some areas here have complete LAC coverage, transforming inclusion, prevention and community building, and how public services more widely think and act.
Read Lenka's story and the impact her micro-enterprise is having on people in the area of Suffolk www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/stories/from...
Lovely to listen to the wisdom of @clentonf.bsky.social at the start of Day 2 with @commcats.bsky.social
We are with 100+ colleagues and activists at The Catalyst Newcastle University, getting visionary and practical about building neighbourhoods that enable Living Well.
Congratulations to Isaac Samuels OBE!! 👏👏👏
The Department of Health and Social Care is running a survey to better understand the experiences of people who arrange and pay for their own care and support.
Self-funders, please consider completing the survey.
If you work with self-funders, please share it with your networks.
buff.ly/xcuUyqX
A graphic with a blue background and scattered confetti. It features the hashtag "#CelebratingSocialCare" and the phrase "Take part in." Below are three check-marked phrases: "Thank," "Celebrate," and "Share," surrounded by small stars and more confetti.
This April we’re once again #CelebratingSocialCare
We want to hear your good news stories, shoutouts to colleagues and reasons you love working in social care.
You can find the details on how to share your stories with us on our dedicated #CelebratingSocialCare webpage.
https://bit.ly/3OK1fWl
We welcome the ambition of Baroness Casey to redesign social care so that it’s fit for the future. Everywhere we go, people tell us there needs to be a radical shift in how adult social care is perceived, funded and valued and it’s crucial that the voices of people who draw on support are involved.
Asset-based commissioning starts by asking one question: what matters to people? It looks at the strengths, skills and relationships people and communities already have.
This hub brings together tools, examples and ideas so that you can make asset-based commissioning a reality
🔗 buff.ly/ipIO5yO
Event invite - Neighbourhoods for Living Well.
With the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing we’re hosting an event on 17 March, #WorldSocialWorkDay that will focus on living well in North East neighbourhoods. It's FREE to attend! Limited places so book early www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...
🤝 #HLINconf26 – Nick Sinclair (Community Catalysts) on relationship-based, community-centred support for those facing housing instability. Read his recent #HLINblog with 4 stories of local area coordination here: www.housinglin.org.uk/blogs/Alongs...
We need to stock the shelves! So important that's there's choice of support available so people with a Direct Payment have more choice as to what they spend it on. Thanks @tlap.bsky.social for featuring our blog 😊
Adult social care has been under intense financial strain for as long as I can remember.’ @jamesbullion.bsky.social discusses local government’s leadership role in reforming ASC and
@local.gov.uk's new conversation series – ‘Care where we live’.
Read his blog: www.adass.org.uk/care-where-we-live/
"Underfunded, short-term care does not save money."
This is what Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE had to say when he was asked the question "In 2026, how do we make the economics of care fair for everyone?"
(page 30) buff.ly/aPZ8O0L
A quote with the Local Area Coordination Network logo.
"...our ability to age and live well doesn’t start with a service, in a clinic or with a care package. It starts in the places we call home: in our neighbourhoods where relationships shape daily life." But how do we make this a reality for people? www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/lacnetwork/n...
What if we enlarged the human element in 2026, refusing to subordinate it to process and protocol?
relationshipsproject.org/make-yoursel...
#relational
#relationships
Commissioning for the Future of Social Care
A one-day conference from Citizen Network for commissioners, providers & system leaders. Explore how local, neighbourhood-based care can build trust, support people better & use money well — with real-life examples and shared learning tinyurl.com/33726akn
The Government has launched a new Disability Advisory Panel, bringing together 10 people with lived experience of disability and long-term health conditions to shape national health and disability policy. Among those appointed is Isaac Samuels OBE, Co-Chair of TLAP's Board.
Member Reps met today to talk about big issues affecting members in 2026 and plans for the year ahead...
Become a member and join a network of like-minded individuals working towards Good Lives for people with learning disabilities together
www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/welcome/join-us/
