Your Voice Matters in Baroness Casey's Big Conversation on Care

Adult social care affects millions of unpaid carers every day. Now, for the first time in a generation, unpaid Carers have a direct opportunity to help shape what a future National Care Service could look like in England.

On 29 July 2026, Baroness Louise Casey launched The Big Conversation on Care, a nationwide public engagement programme that aims to give people across England a say in the future of adult social care. The conversation will run until April 2027 and is expected to engage up to one million people.

For unpaid Carers, this is more than just another consultation. It is an opportunity to ensure that the realities of caring for a loved one are heard by those influencing future reforms. Hear Baroness Louise Casey's introduction to why this is taking place in the video below.

Why should unpaid Carers get involved?

Every day, unpaid Carers provide invaluable support to family members, friends and neighbours who are older, disabled, living with long-term health conditions or experiencing serious illness.

Many Carers know first-hand the challenges of navigating a social care system that can feel complex, underfunded and difficult to access. Baroness Casey has described the current adult social care system as "broken" and has stressed that lasting reform can only happen if the public helps answer some of the fundamental questions about care and support.

As unpaid Carers, your experiences can help shape discussions about:

• Who should be eligible for care and support.

• What support families and communities can realistically provide.

• What role government should play.

• How care should be funded fairly and sustainably.

• What a future National Care Service should look like.

  
  

The difficult questions that need answering

One of the most important aspects of the Big Conversation is that it does not avoid difficult issues.

The consultation asks people to consider:

• When someone becomes older, disabled or seriously ill, who should support them and how?

• What is a reasonable expectation of families?

• How can carers be better recognised and supported?

• How should the costs of care be shared between individuals, families and the state?

For many unpaid Carers, these are not theoretical questions. They are issues experienced every day, often balancing employment, family life, finances and personal wellbeing alongside caring responsibilities.

Why carers' voices are essential

Too often, policy discussions take place without fully reflecting the lived experiences of those who provide care.

Unpaid Carers understand:

• The emotional impact of caring.

• The financial pressures that caring can bring.

• The challenges of accessing assessments and support services.

• The impact caring responsibilities can have on health and wellbeing.

• The importance of respite, information and practical support.

The Casey Commission has specifically highlighted plans to engage with unpaid cCarers as part of the wider conversation, recognising that not everyone will participate online and that diverse voices must be heard.

How to take part

The Big Conversation on Care is open to everyone in England through an online platform where people can:

• Share their own views and ideas.

• Respond to other people's suggestions.

• Vote on proposals.

• Participate in discussions about the future of adult social care.

The conversation will take place in two phases:

Phase 1 (July to November 2026) focuses on values, principles and eligibility for support.

Phase 2 will focus on funding, delivery and implementation of future reforms.

A chance to create lasting change

Social care reform has been discussed for decades, yet many unpaid Carers continue to face significant challenges accessing the support they need. Baroness Casey has stated that previous reform efforts have often failed because they did not build sufficient public understanding and agreement before proposing solutions.

This Big Conversation offers a genuine opportunity for unpaid Carers to influence national policy and ensure that future reforms recognise the crucial role carers play in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

If you are an unpaid Carer, consider sharing your experiences. Your voice, your challenges and your ideas could help shape the future of care in England for generations to come.

Take part in the Big Conversation on Care: https://caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/

Unpaid Carers are the backbone of our care system. This is your opportunity to make sure your voice is heard and your experiences help drive the change that Carers and the people they support urgently need.