This month marks a year since I joined ARC England and it’s prompted me to pause and reflect. The past twelve months have gone quickly; full of kindness, learning and a growing appreciation for the work we do in partnership with others. It’s been a year of pace, change and connection.
Being Northern through and through, raised by Mancunian parents and grandparents, I found myself watching the Makerfield by‑election with interest. It felt like a sign that bigger shifts might be underway. The North may be stepping into a new kind of visibility, and it will be fascinating to see what the summer brings politically, including whether we see yet another change in the Health and Social Care Secretary. Alongside this, I’ve been meeting members to understand the pressures they’re facing. Commissioning practice is high on everyone’s agenda, which is why we’ll be hosting a roundtable meeting in September with members and senior Department of Health and Social Care colleagues to ensure those concerns are heard at a policy-making level within Government. It’s clear that our members want space to speak honestly about what’s working and what isn’t.
None of us expected the recent Supreme Court judgement. Since then, we’ve been working closely with colleagues to understand the implications for our members, while keeping in mind that people and families are understandably worried about what comes next. We’re waiting for further guidance expected in July, and for now it’s very much a case of watching this space.
Last week I attended our Together4Change group, where members showcased the media they’re creating, including two podcasts and several films. It was a brilliant reminder of what people can achieve when they’re supported to develop skills in areas they’re passionate about.
I also took great pleasure in attending the 20th birthday celebration of a care provider I’ve known for years. Back when I was a commissioner, we worked together to set up the first dementia café in Lancashire on the local high street. We’ve stayed in touch ever since, and it’s been wonderful to see how they’ve flexed and adapted over time. This week alone we’ve received three other invitations to attend events and we’ll do our best to be there. Relationships really are the foundation of good partnership working.
This week we met with The Baked Bean Charity, who do fantastic work in the creative arts. Some of their participants feature in ITV’s The Assembly – if you haven’t watched it yet, please do. It’s genuinely fabulous.
And on a personal note, last week I took part in a media campaign called Widowed and Not Forgotten, sharing my experience of being a younger widow navigating life after losing my husband late last year. I wanted to raise awareness of widowhood and the impact it has on every part of life when it happens at a younger age. It was emotional, but important.
Until next month — take care in the heat.
Sam Leonard
ARC England Director
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