Access Social Care

15/10/2026

Every single day, people are denied the social care support they are legally entitled to.

Our 2025/26 Annual Report is live and shows how we worked to change that in 2025/26.

Behind every statistic is a person standing up for their rights.

📈 215% increase in AccessAva conversations – connecting more people than ever to free digital information and guidance when they need it most.

⚖️ More than 560 matters supported by our legal team, helping people navigate complex social care issues and fight for fair outcomes.

🤝Stronger community partnerships challenging the systemic barriers that hold people back from accessing essential care.

These achievements are made possible by the dedication of our staff, volunteers, members, partners, and supporters.

Thank you for being part of our work to make social care rights accessible to all.

Find our 2025/26 Annual Report here: https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/annual-report/annual-report-2025

14/10/2026

Did you know we provide Legal Rights Training to strengthen your knowledge, skills, and confidence in advocating for people who need or draw on social care?

Delivered by legal experts with first-hand experience in social care, the training goes beyond the basics, equipping you with practical tools and real-world insight to help you navigate complex challenges and deliver meaningful, life-changing outcomes for those you support.

The training covers:
✔️ Care Act 2014
✔️ Mental Capacity Act
✔️ Carers’ rights
✔️ Continuing Healthcare disputes
✔️ Transition to adult social care
✔️ Practical problem-solving strategies

Find out more:
https://ow.ly/Rk5q50ZXt2S

13/10/2026

📱 Calling all Care Workers: Shape the future of digital tech in your everyday work!

Digital tools are becoming a bigger part of social care—from digital care plans to assistive monitoring. But for technology to actually make your day-to-day job easier, research needs to focus on what works on the frontline.

The Centre for Care and the James Lind Alliance are running Round 2 of their survey to set the research priorities for care technology, and your professional voice is crucial.

We need to hear from you if:
• You in social care (domiciliary, residential, community, or specialist care)
• You use — or are impacted by — technology in your daily support work

If you filled out Round 1 and can help us narrow down the final shortlist! But we also want to hear from people who didn’t take part in the first round too.

Your insight ensures future tech investments support care staff, improve daily workflows, and better serve the people you care for.

📥 Take the Survey (It takes just a few minutes)
• Standard Survey: https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/t/AB3vD8oZB3wmfg
• Easy Read Version: https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/t/AB3vD8oZB3wj2E
• Screen Reader Compatible: https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/t/AB3vD8oZB3wmUK

Please tag a colleague or re-share to make sure frontline voices are heard! 💬

Screen Reader Accessible - This survey is created by QuestionPro

07/10/2026

Are you passionate about social care and access to justice? We’re looking for two new Trustees!

We are open to applications from everyone. However, following the forthcoming end of term of a founding trustee, and in line with our current skills review of the Board, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals with:

Lived experience of drawing on social care or experience of the communities we serve, especially individuals who have experience as ambassadors or campaigners on behalf of these communities and

Individuals with legal expertise or a background in legal practice

We are committed to improving diversity on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience of the communities we serve, including people with direct experience of the social care system, and from marginalised groups, particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, older and disabled people, and trans and non binary people.

📄 Find the Trustee Recruitment Pack and how to apply on our website: https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/work-with-us

💬 To arrange an informal chat about the role please contact: [email protected]

⏰ Closing date: 23:59pm on Monday 12th October

The selection process will be held between the weeks commencing 19th October and 23rd November.

Please refer to the trustee recruitment pack for specific dates.

07/10/2026

🎙️ State of Our Nation Episode 4 is out now!

In our latest episode, we’re joined by Penny Pepper – author and poet for a conversation about representation, independence, relationships and what social care should really make possible.

Penny shares her experiences of social care, and why support should be about more than meeting basic needs. It should help people live full lives, have choice and control, and be able to participate in the things that matter to them.

We’ve also got our In Conversation episode with Andy and Kari, reflecting on Penny’s story and exploring autonomy, rights, relationships and the future of social care.

👉 🎧 Listen to the latest episodes and share them with your networks.
https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/news-blog/pennypepper

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yy91SGYFFKzwzVMBsGKtx?si=b904d16c9bfa4300&nd=1&dlsi=6558cf1f9c7d4bbb

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/state-of-our-nation/id1651835794

📖 Explore Penny’s work:
- Substack: https://pennypepper.substack.com/
- Royal Literary Fund: https://www.rlf.org.uk/posts/against-this-backdrop-i-wrote-and-i-wrote/
- Penny’s writing on Byline Times: https://bylinetimes.com/author/pennypepper/
- Penny’s books: https://www.pennypepper.co.uk/books
-D-Punk on BFI Player: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-d-punk-2026-online

06/10/2026

People are not numbers on a spreadsheet.

For years, Lizzie’s family fought for the care and support she needed, but decisions were based on what she could technically do rather than the support she actually required.

With help from Access Social Care, her family successfully challenged the care plan and secured the right support for Lizzie.

Read Lizzie's story and see why social care must see the person, not just the paperwork https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/news-blog/paperformula

06/10/2026

📣 REMINDER: Survey is still open!

Digital technology is becoming an increasingly important part of social care — and we want to hear what you think should be researched.

If you have:
💬 Lived experience of care and support needs
💬 Experience as an unpaid carer
💬 Professional experience as a care worker
💬 Experience working for an organisation supporting people with lived experience

…we’d love to hear from you.

Your views can help shape future research into digital care technologies and make sure the questions being researched reflect what matters to people.

⏰ The survey is still open — have your say today!

👉 Take the survey https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/a/TakeSurvey?tt=PI5wDKvk7j9LywoTCjT8WA%3D%3D

Easy read version: https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/a/TakeSurvey?tt=A46X0K%2Bbtcsi7B5TNkPYGQ%3D%3D

Screen reader: https://sheffield.questionpro.eu/a/TakeSurvey?tt=QL5cRSE7pIJFM65wPizNOA%3D%3D

Please share this post with anyone who might want to contribute.

Screen Reader Accessible - This survey is created by QuestionPro

02/10/2026

Join our FREE online session to understand your rights and how to navigate the system with more confidence.

Adult social care can feel complicated, especially when you’re trying to work out what support you’re entitled to, or what to do when things aren’t going as expected.

This practical 2-hour session will help you understand:

🔹 The 4 stages to securing social care
🔹 Your rights and what you may be entitled to
🔹 Practical tips for getting the support you need
🔹 How to navigate the system with greater confidence
🔹 What to do if you’re struggling to get the right support

There’ll also be a Q&A, and the session will be recorded, so you can catch up afterwards if you can’t attend live.

💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
⏰ 2 hours, including a short break
🎟️ £10 ticket or Free ticket available

Whether you receive social care yourself or support a family member or friend, this session is designed to give you clear, practical information you can use.

👉 Find out more and book your place: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/accesssocialcare1/2335637

01/10/2026

🎙️ Episode three of the State of Our Nation podcast is out now!

Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Will Pike, disability consultant, keynote speaker and media professional to discuss disability, autonomy and the systems that shape access to support.

Drawing on Will’s experience of spinal injury, they explore topics such as bureaucracy, inaccessible environments, the importance of lived experience and what happens when decisions are made without disabled people at the centre.

They also discuss how universal design can benefit everyone, and what it takes to build care and support systems that protect dignity, autonomy and inclusion.

Following Kari and Will’s conversation, Kari is joined by Andy McCabe In Conversation to reflect on the discussion and explore what it tells us about the future of social care and support.

Listen to the episodes: https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/news-blog/willpike
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yy91SGYFFKzwzVMBsGKtx?si=b904d16c9bfa4300&nd=1&dlsi=49c3681faeca42af
Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/state-of-our-nation/id1651835794

🎬 Watch Will’s short film, Yes I Can, If... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjvYZ2jvvp8

🎧 Listen to Episode 3 now and join the conversation.

29/09/2026

We’re looking forward to seeing our CEO & Founder Kari Gerstheimer take to the stage at Care Show Birmingham next week.

📅 7 October | 1:00pm
The Impact of commissioning decisions on people relying on care and support

📅 8 October | 1:45pm
Money counts: challenging finance and funding decisions from local authorities

These are issues that sit at the heart of a fairer, more person-centred social care system and we’re looking forward to bringing these conversations to the Care Show audience.

📍 NEC Birmingham
📅 7–8 October 2026

If you’re attending, make sure you add Kari’s sessions to your agenda.