Alzheimer's Support's Monique Bentley has called for immediate reforms to save social care at today's march by care workers in London.
Monique, head of registered services, joined care workers from across the UK at a march and rally in Westminster where they called on the Government to rethink social care policy and invest in the sector which has been damaged by measures in last autumn's Budget.
The march was organised by Providers Unite, an alliance of social care organisations who are calling for more recognition and respect for the sector, including fairer pay and an exemption from employer National Insurance increases. After a march to Parliament, campaigners met MPs and others to explain their message in more detail.
Monique said: "It was an amazing day, exhausting, but so memorable. To be together with so many dedicated and compassionate people who spend their working lives supporting some of the most vulnerable, but who are absolutely devastated by what is happening to the sector, was very moving.
"The effects of recent Government policies are undermining all the good work and we absolutely need to stand up for ourselves as a sector. We need reform in social care. It has to be meaningful and we need it now.
"We had a chance to speak to MPs who could not believe the costs that providers, including charities like ours, are facing at the moment. I just hope that it will have some effect and that policy makers will take action after hearing what we had to say."
Monique was also interviewed on BBC Wiltshire where she explained more about how the recent increase in the National Minimum Wage, and changes to National Insurance, were impacting social care providers.
Alzheimer's Support CEO Sarah Marriott said: "We are very proud of Monique for representing our charity at the day of action. Alzheimer's Support has been very adversely affected by the budget, which has added £200,000 to our costs next year and threatens to impact how we are able to support people.
"It is essential that policy makers start to value social care more, and to engage with the sector to find long term solutions, fairer funding models and a sustainable way forward."