Community Catalysts

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

New Independent Disability Advisory Panel to put lived experience at the heart of policy - TLAP The Government has announced the first members of its new Independent Disability Advisory Panel, bringing together ten people with lived experience of disability and long-term health conditions to…

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/

Alex Fox OBE announced as new CEO of Community Catalysts | Community Catalysts Alex Fox OBE will take up the role of CEO at Community Catalysts on 16 March 2026. Alex is an experienced leader and innovator.

Our Chair, Paul Morton and the Community Catalysts team are delighted to announce that @alexfoxshared.bsky.social will take up the role of CEO at Community Catalysts on 16 March. We're excited to welcome Alex onboard to lead us through our next phase www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/2026/01/14/a...

Unlocking the power of Direct Payments for the global majority
📅 27 Jan

Explore how Direct Payments can better support people who have been racialised as ethnic minorities through culturally appropriate, strengths-based approaches rooted in real experience: buff.ly/HpFV7aZ

Breathing new life into community spaces | Community Catalysts The story of how three community entrepreneurs and a local housing association worked together to breathe new life into a community space in Ware.

A lot of the fantastic community micro-enterprises that we support to get started have a positive ripple effect on their local area over time.
New partnerships are just one of these positive impacts. Read more https://loom.ly/XI15W8w

We're challenging everyday terms that get in the way of a person-centred approach to care and support, where people are recognised as equal citizens and have choice and control over the care they draw on to live the life they want.

Explore our Language Hub to learn more buff.ly/kG5dhlq

Merry Christmas from Community Catalysts on a pink background.

As well as latest updates and new developments, our December newsletter also features Pip Cannons's highlights of 2025 https://loom.ly/gWjSDtw

Use the subscribe link to get all our news sent straight to your inbox in 2026! Wishing you a fantastic Christmas and best wishes for 2026!

What role could community assets play in supporting children and young people with SEND? | Community Catalysts A reflection on potential solutions to the system challenges for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

What role could community assets play in supporting children and young people with #SEND? Are there opportunities for a place-based development programme? We'd love to hear from people about it https://loom.ly/vYx1e7c

#SocialCareFuture Elevate YouTube video by #SocialCareFuture

At our September gathering over 200 people who draw on social care and allies came together to share and generate suggestions for consideration by the Casey Commission on the future of adult social care. Today we're sharing these in a short film & report (link in replies)

youtu.be/2s3F_xBCunY

Nuns on the run I’ve loved this evolving story: Three nuns were forced against their will and promises they believed had been made to them to abandon the Alpine convent they called home to be placed in a care home…

Choice and control is an ongoing political struggle, not a service model, with some unlikely & unexpected new heroes: nuns on the run. makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/n...

The future of adult social care relies on public understanding. So how can we shifting the way we talk to build understanding and strengthen support for investment and reform?

If you want to communicate about social care in a way that connects, these resources will help: bit.ly/3KINLs5

Conference details and partners.

We'll be at #NCASC25 this week in Bournemouth. Look out for @nicksinclair.bsky.social and Helen Allen, our Programme Directors who will be very happy to connect and chat to you about our work.

What I took from a Casey Commission evidence session — and why people must be at the heart of reform - ADASS Jess McGregor, ADASS President and Director of Adult Social Care at Camden Council, reflects on an early roundtable for Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission on Adult Social Care.

ADASS President, @jessmcp.bsky.social shares insights from a Casey Commission evidence session she took part in. Read her blog: www.adass.org.uk/what-i-took-from-a-casey-commission-evidence-session-and-why-people-must-be-at-the-heart-of-reform/

Are Direct Payments helping people to live good lives?
Or are we still counting hours on a spreadsheet?

Rich Amos explores in his latest blog, as he shares his honest reflections on what’s working well, what isn’t, and why leadership, trust, and culture matter just as much as policy buff.ly/uOM9XqF

@wecarewales.bsky.social has shared a really inspiring story of how Leah changed her own life and the lives of others by setting up her own community micro-enterprise. We are so delighted to have helped her on the journey. Read Leah's story https://loom.ly/JXNKX_A

Pip Cannons and Debbie John from our team visited the Bristol Robotics Laboratory to find out more about the Personalised Assisted Living Studio www.bristolroboticslab.com It was a great opportunity to see the possibilities of robotics and what it might mean for health and social care.

Growing personal health budget take up and impact | Community Catalysts A report that evidences how personal health budgets change people's lives, are good value for money and help NHS targets.

Today we publish a report that provides evidence that Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) change people’s lives, offer value for money and make care more personalised and sustainable! 📣Read the report www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/publications... @angelacat.bsky.social

💥 3 big questions that we'll be discussing at our next Direct Payments webinar on 25th November 💥 This time: "Direct Payments – but there's nothing to buy!"

Book your place at buff.ly/AyJ3Wtc

New Social Leaders of Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing | Community Catalysts An exciting development offer for those interested to build their leadership capacity, skills, and connections.

Are you passionate about neighbourhood health and wellbeing, want to bring about meaningful change and be alongside others making it happen? If so, our New Social Leaders for Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing programme is for you! Find out more www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/our-work/new...

WEBINAR | TOMORROW: Making Direct Payments work with finite resources
🗓️ 28 Oct
🕰️ 12:30–1:30
🎟️ Free – open to all

🔗 buff.ly/PtXVzIC
#DirectPayments #SocialCare #ChoiceAndControl