We often say that #SocialCareFuture was ‘born of frustration, but is powered by hope’. A chief frustration that saw the movement come into being was the constant no-platforming of people who draw on adult social care in debates about the future of adult social care, from high level meetings and conferences to coverage in the print and broadcast media.
As #SocialCareFuture convener Anna Severwright, says,
“..if a conference on gender inequality had no female speakers, it would be criticised and probably draw protests. Or an event about tackling racism, had only white experts, rightly it would lack all credibility. And yet social care conferences are all full of experts and leaders who usually have never experienced living with the very thing they are talking about. Or we have to beg to be begrudgingly added at the last minute as the ‘token service user’”
And as Clenton Farquharson often remarks ‘if you’re not around the table, you’re very likely on the menu’
So we’ve unashamedly challenged this and we’ve seen some change, though it has yet to become the default setting it should be.
A common reply from events organisers and others is that they struggle to identify and connect with people who would want and be able to contribute via such platforms. We find that unconvincing – this is after all a field touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people directly and millions indirectly every day. But to help, In Control have set up and are continuing to grow and diversify a ‘Speaker Finder Service’ where you can browse a range of brilliant social care-experienced speakers to suit your audience.
Next time you’re planning an event on social care, or setting up an advisory group, or doing a newspaper feature or news story, plan ahead to ensure that the voices of people who draw on social care are at the heart of it.
