05 Aug 2026
People across England are being invited to help shape the future of adult social care through The Big Conversation on Care, a nationwide public engagement launched by Baroness Louise Casey as part of her independent commission into creating a future National Care Service.
The conversation will run until April 2027 and aims to hear from one million people. It invites individuals, families, carers, care professionals, voluntary organisations and communities to share their views on some of the biggest questions facing social care, including who should receive support, what role families should play, and how care should be funded in a fair and sustainable way.
For rural communities, this is an important opportunity to ensure that the realities of delivering and accessing care in rural areas are reflected in future reforms. Challenges such as workforce shortages, longer travel times, dispersed populations and an ageing demographic mean rural experiences must form part of the national conversation.
The Rural Services Network encourages members to take part themselves and to share the opportunity with colleagues, partners and local communities to help ensure rural voices are heard.
Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of The Rural Services Network:
The future of adult social care must work for people wherever they live. Rural communities often face distinct challenges in accessing and delivering care, yet their experiences can easily be overlooked in national debates. We encourage our members; partners and the rural communities they represent to take part in The Big Conversation on Care and help ensure that future reforms reflect the realities of rural England.
