The Cares Family
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alex Smith |
| Dissolved | 2023 |
| Focus | bringing older and younger people together to reduce loneliness and intergenerational polarisation |
| Website | www |
The Cares Family was a group of charities which operated in the UK from 2011 to 2023.[1] The organisation brought older and younger people together to reduce loneliness and intergenerational polarisation in London, Manchester and Liverpool.[2][3] It also shared its approach with communities across the UK,[4] raised awareness of the impact of loneliness, and advocated for government action.[5]
The Cares Family was one of a number of initiatives credited for leading action on Britain's 'loneliness epidemic' which the former UK prime minister, Theresa May, said was 'one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.'[6]
Founding and launch
[edit]The Cares Family was inspired by a chance meeting between its founder, Alex Smith, and an older neighbour, Fred, on May 6, 2010. Smith was canvassing for votes in a local election when he met Fred, who had not left his home for three months. Smith wheeled his neighbour to the voting place, returned the next day to take him for a haircut, and the two developed a friendship that helped both feel more connected in their local communities. This friendship led to the creation by Smith of the first local charity in The Cares Family group, North London Cares.[7]
Closing
[edit]The group ceased operating in November 2023, due to difficulty fundraising, unanticipated tax liabilities, and an insufficiently resilient budget.[1][8] Staff were told of the immediate closure of the charity and the loss of their jobs on a hastily-arranged Microsoft Teams call on October 31 2023, with most leaving the charity that same day. Staff have since written to The Charity Commission to ask for an investigation into the causes of the charity's closure.[9] A full explanation for the closure has yet to be given to ex-staff, and no pay for notice periods has been given.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Butler, Patrick; Dugan, Emily (2023-11-01). "Loneliness charity the Cares Family goes bust, warning others will follow". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "Community networks linking older and younger people". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "Can councils end London's loneliness epidemic?". 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "People from Bradford sought to join community leaders programme". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "Loneliness is a serious public-health problem". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "PM launches Government's first loneliness strategy". GOV.UK. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "Finding Connection in a Disconnected Age: Stories of community in a time of change". nesta. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ Whitehead, Harriet. "Unanticipated tax liabilities contributed to Cares Family closure, documents reveal". Civil Society. Civil Society Media. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ Whitehead, Harriet. "Former Cares Family staff raised concerns to regulator about charity's closure". Civil Society. Civil Society Media. Retrieved 22 November 2024.