Grace Cares’ Care Club welcomes Speakmore and Lichfield Film Club for latest face-to-face session

Grace Cares held its latest face-to-face Care Club session, bringing together those who care for others for a morning of support, connection and useful information.

The session welcomed guest speaker Tracy from Speakmore, alongside representatives from Lichfield Film Club, who shared details of their upcoming showings designed to support those caring for others.

Tracy brings over 30 years of experience working in both the NHS and independent sector, supporting people with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease, as well as successfully treating clients with stammers and voice problems. Over the course of her career she has worked as a clinical lead and specialist in acquired neurological disorders, a team leader, lead for local and national research projects, chairman of a professional study group, and team lead for a community rehabilitation service.

Since qualifying, Tracy has continued to study across all areas of her work, gaining postgraduate qualifications including a Certificate in Counselling, Advanced Dysphagia, a Leadership Award, the Lee Silverman Voice Technique, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, a Certificate in the Principles of Dementia Care, and Talking Mats Training. She has worked across acute, neuropsychiatric and mental health hospital settings, as well as care homes, people’s own homes and out-patient clinics. Tracy is passionate about providing practical solutions to communication and swallowing problems, and believes that long-term conditions require long-term support.

Tasha, from Grace Cares, said:

“We gather feedback after every Care Club session, and it’s clear how much value carers get from having a space like this to come together. We’ll be looking to increase how regularly we run these sessions moving forward.”

Grace Cares’ Care Club runs regularly to bring together those supporting others in a caring role, offering guest speakers, useful information and a chance to connect with others in similar situations. For more information please email hello@grace-cares.com.

Pictured: Tracy from Speakmore and a member of the Grace Cares tribe.

Grace Cares volunteers pause, breathe and reconnect at latest Coffee, Cake & Catch Up

Grace Cares, the Lichfield-based circular economy enterprise supporting the social care sector, welcomed Nicola Kathryn Coaching to its most recent volunteer Coffee, Cake and Catch Up session, where Nicola led volunteers through a series of practical breathwork techniques.

The session recognised that supporting vulnerable people in the community, while rewarding, can also bring up strong emotions for those doing the supporting. As a predominantly volunteer-run not-for-profit, Grace Cares places as much importance on the wellbeing of its people as it does on the work they carry out, with organisers noting that volunteers need to “put their own mask on first” before they can continue helping others.

Care sits at the heart of Grace Cares’ work, and that ethos extends to the volunteers who help deliver it. The organisation says it wants everyone who gives their time to feel welcome, valued and supported, with a genuine place to make a difference and to feel proud, happy and healthy while doing so.

Emma, Co-Founder of Grace Cares, commented:
” Our volunteers give so much to support people across our community, so it’s important we give something back. Sessions like this remind everyone that it’s okay to pause and look after themselves too.”

Nicola, of Nicola Kathryn Coaching, added:
“It was a privilege to spend time with the Grace Cares volunteers. Breathwork is a simple, accessible tool, and it was wonderful to see the group take it on board and support one another.”

Grace Cares runs bi-annual Coffee, Cake and Catch Up sessions for its volunteers to connect, share experiences and feel supported in their role within the community. Whether you’re interested in volunteering ad hoc, monthly, or more regularly, Grace Cares would love to hear from you, please get in touch to find out more. 01543 730189 hello@grace-cares.com

Pictured: Nicola, of Nicola Kathryn Coaching, and some of the Grace Cares tribe.

What Would the Planet Think? Reflections from the Care Talk ESG Roundtable

In April, I had the privilege of joining a roundtable at the Supreme Court in London for a conversation our sector has needed for a long time. The subject was ESG in social care, and the title told you exactly where we need to head: from compliance to culture.

The report from that discussion has now been published, and I would encourage everyone working in or alongside social care to read it. Chaired by Martin Green OBE of Care England, the panel brought together providers, charity leaders, technologists, and people who draw on care and support. What struck me most was how quickly the room agreed on one thing: ESG cannot be a box we tick. It has to be the way we think.

ESG is not just the ‘E’

When people hear ESG, they tend to jump straight to the environmental pillar. Energy use, waste, carbon. It is the easiest part to measure, so it gets the attention. But the social and governance pillars are where social care lives or dies. Fair pay, dignity, anti-racism, tackling the cost-of-living pressures that push brilliant care workers out of the sector. As the report puts it plainly, you cannot call a service sustainable if the people delivering and receiving care are not valued, listened to, and supported.

That tension came up again and again. There is a real moral disconnect when an organisation invests in a shiny sustainability project while its staff sit on minimum wage. We have to do both, and we have to be honest about the order of priorities.

The workforce is the foundation

If there was a single thread running through the whole conversation, it was this. Care work is skilled, complex, relational, mission-led work, and the language we use about it has to catch up. Phrases like “unskilled carers” and “managing demand” do quiet damage. They shape how the public values the sector, and they shape how the workforce values itself.

Co-production was the answer the panel kept returning to. Not consulting people who draw on care, but genuinely sharing power with them and with their families and unpaid carers. Measuring dignity, respect, belonging, and relationships, not just KPIs.

Why this conversation matters to me

At Grace Cares, the question I find myself asking before almost every decision is a simple one: what would the planet think about this choice that we are making? It is the line I shared at the roundtable, and it is the line that sits behind everything we do.

Our whole model is built on the report’s recommendations before I ever read them. We rescue, refurbish, and redistribute large bulky care equipment that would otherwise go to landfill, and we sell it on at no more than half the original retail price. The proceeds fund free community programmes for unpaid caregivers and older people. That is the circular economy in practice, and it is proof of one of the report’s clearest findings: many of the highest-value changes are also the lowest cost. You do not need large-scale reform to start. You need to look honestly at everyday practice and embed better choices into routine decisions.

From compliance to culture

The most encouraging part of the day was the agreement that change does not have to be daunting. Small, consistent actions create real long-term impact. Recognising and building on the good work providers and staff are already doing is where momentum comes from.

ESG, done properly, is not another obligation landing on an already stretched sector. It is a pathway to a more compassionate, more sustainable, and fairer system. One defined not by efficiency alone, but by dignity, respect, and the quality of human relationships at its heart.

You can read the full Care Talk report, “ESG in Social Care: From Compliance to Culture,” and download the PDF here: https://www.caretalk.co.uk/roundtable-discussion-esg-in-social-care-from-compliance-to-culture/

If your organisation is thinking about where to start, I am always happy to talk. Sometimes the first quick win is just asking a better question.

Hannah Montgomery is co-founder of Grace Cares 11.11 CIC and a panellist at the Care Talk ESG roundtable, held at the Supreme Court in April 2026.

Grace Cares Announces Winner of National Tea Party Day Fundraiser and Invites Volunteers to Help Tackle Loneliness

A not-for-profit social care charity has announced the winner of its National Tea Party Day fundraising raffle, raising £550 to support older people and unpaid caregivers at risk of loneliness and isolation.

Grace Cares ran the campaign in partnership with British manufacturer Arthur Price, offering supporters the chance to win an Arthur Price Everyday Classic 42-piece boxed cutlery set worth £279.

The winning ticket was drawn on 21 April – National Tea Party Day. The winner was Jan, who is a nurse and always puts people first!

A total of 55 tickets were purchased by supporters across the community, helping raise vital funds for preventative support programmes that reduce isolation and strengthen wellbeing.

Alongside celebrating the success of the fundraiser, Grace Cares is now encouraging more people to join its growing volunteer “tribe” by becoming community tea party hosts, helping create regular opportunities for connection across local neighbourhoods.

Supporting Connection Before Crisis

Funds raised will directly support Grace Cares’ community tea parties, Care Club sessions, and hardship grants, helping older people and unpaid caregivers access connection, trusted advice, and practical support before challenges escalate.

Loneliness is now widely recognised as a major public health issue. According to Age UK, around 1.4 million older people often feel lonely, while many unpaid caregivers experience social isolation alongside caring responsibilities.

Community-based initiatives such as tea parties play an important preventative role by:

supporting independence and wellbeing
strengthening local networks
reducing escalation to crisis support
easing pressure on health and social care services

Hannah Montgomery, co-founder of Grace Cares, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the raffle and to the generosity of Arthur Price. Something as simple as sharing tea and conversation can make a profound difference. The funds raised will help us reach more older people and unpaid caregivers with connection, advice and practical support when they need it most.

We’re now inviting more people to join the Grace Cares tribe as volunteer tea party hosts. You don’t need specialist skills – just warmth, kindness and a willingness to bring people together.”

Strengthening Communities Through Small Moments of Connection

National Tea Party Day highlights how everyday community activities can improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. Across the UK, local groups, care providers, and volunteers hosted tea parties to mark the occasion and encourage meaningful social interaction.

Grace Cares’ approach focuses on early intervention and prevention, helping people stay independent for longer while building stronger local support networks.

Simon Price, chairman of Arthur Price, said:

“We are delighted to support Grace Cares and the important work they do bringing people together. Campaigns like this show how simple acts of connection can have a lasting impact.”

Join the Grace Cares Tribe as a Volunteer Tea Party Host

Following the success of the campaign, Grace Cares is encouraging individuals, community groups, and organisations to continue the momentum by hosting tea parties throughout the year.

Volunteer tea party hosts help:

reduce loneliness in their community
support unpaid caregivers
create welcoming local spaces for conversation and connection
strengthen neighbourhood resilience

Hannah added:

“National Tea Party Day maybe one day in the calendar, but the need for connection continues every day. Hosting a tea party is one of the simplest and most powerful ways people can make a difference locally. We would love more people to join our tribe and help us bring communities together.”

Supporting Image: James and Karanjeet Grace Cares Placement students

Grace Cares and Anthony Collins LLP deliver legal rights session supporting unpaid caregivers navigating complex care decisions.

Unpaid caregivers supporting family members and friends across the UK received practical legal guidance this week through a specialist Care Club session delivered by Grace Cares in partnership with Anthony Collins LLP.

The session – Understanding Care and Legal Rights: Advice and Q&A – addressed key challenges faced by people providing unpaid care, many of whom are making complex decisions without formal training, legal clarity or consistent access to support.

With unpaid caregivers estimated to save the UK economy billions each year, improving access to clear legal information is increasingly recognised as essential to preventing crisis escalation and reducing pressure on statutory services.

Legal specialists Laura Jordan, Partner, and Beth Parlane, Solicitor, provided guidance on:

Rights under the Care Act 2014
Employment protections for unpaid caregivers
Financial support and benefits access
Mental capacity and decision-making frameworks
Housing and property considerations
NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility
End-of-life and estate planning

The session formed part of Grace Cares’ wider preventative support programme for unpaid caregivers and older people, alongside its circular economy model redistributing surplus care equipment and reinvesting income into community-based interventions tackling isolation and hardship.

Hannah Montgomery, Co-founder of Grace Cares, said:

“Unpaid caregivers are holding together large parts of the health and social care system, yet too many people still struggle to access clear, trusted information about their rights.

Care Club exists to bridge that gap – bringing expert advice directly to communities in a way that is practical, accessible and human. Partnerships like this with Anthony Collins LLP help ensure people feel more confident making decisions earlier, before challenges escalate.”

Laura Jordan, Partner at Anthony Collins LLP, added:

“Understanding legal rights around care, funding and decision-making can significantly improve outcomes for both caregivers and the people they support.

We were delighted to work alongside Grace Cares to create a space where individuals could ask questions openly and leave better equipped to navigate complex systems.”

Upcoming session

A further online Care Club session will take place on 27 April at 9.30am, with recordings available to all registered participants:

https://watch.getcontrast.io/register/grace-cares-care-club-understanding-care-and-legal-rights-advice-and-q-a-session

Supporting Image: Beth Parlane, Solicitor and Laura Jordan, partner from Anthony Collins LLP

Grace Cares Severn Trent Collect More Care Equipment

Severn Trent support helps Grace Cares rescue more bulky care equipment from landfill across 2026

Grace Cares is expanding its van operations across 2026 thanks to new support from Severn Trent – enabling significantly more bulky care equipment to be rescued from landfill and redistributed to households who urgently need it.

The not-for-profit organisation exists to make care more sustainable by rescuing pre-loved equipment and making it available at affordable prices. Until now, van collections have relied heavily on volunteer drivers and limited operational capacity.

With Severn Trent’s backing, that capacity will dramatically increase – allowing Grace Cares to collect and deliver more large, heavy items such as profiling beds, rise and recliner chairs and mobility scooters.

Tackling bulky waste that would otherwise go to landfill

Large care equipment is expensive, difficult to transport and challenging for households to dispose of responsibly. Without a collection service, many of these items would ultimately be sent to landfill.

Across 2026, Grace Cares estimates the expanded service will:

Rescue more than 1,500 additional bulky care items
Prevent approximately 37 tonnes of waste from entering landfill
Save around 180 cubic metres of landfill space
Avoid close to 8 tonnes of CO₂ emissions

These bulky items make the greatest environmental impact when diverted from waste streams – and the greatest personal impact when redistributed affordably into homes.

Supporting independence at home

By increasing its ability to transport larger items, Grace Cares expects hundreds more individuals to benefit across the year – including older people, unpaid caregivers and individuals returning home from hospital.

Access to affordable equipment such as beds and mobility aids can be the difference between remaining safely at home or facing hospital readmission or residential care.

Emma Smith, Co-Founder of Grace Cares, said:

“Our volunteers have been incredible in helping us build this model, but bulky items like beds and rise and recliners require additional capacity and coordination. With Severn Trent’s support, we can now step up our ability to rescue the items that are hardest to move – and therefore most likely to be discarded.

This isn’t about sending a van to collect small household items that people can easily bring to us. It’s about intervening where transport is the real barrier – ensuring large, life-changing pieces of equipment don’t go to waste.”

Strengthening the circular economy in care

Smaller care items will continue to be managed through drop-off and collection arrangements at the Grace Cares unit, maintaining an efficient and community-led model. The expanded van service is specifically designed to address the transport gap for heavy, bulky equipment.

By supporting this expansion, Severn Trent is helping to strengthen a circular solution that delivers measurable environmental impact while improving quality of life for local residents.

Through this partnership, more essential equipment will stay in circulation, more carbon will be saved, and more households will be supported to live safely and independently at home.

Image: L-R Emma Smith, Adam Harrison and Hannah Montgomery, Founders of Grace Cares with the Grace Cares van

Grace Cares Turns 3 – Celebrating Impact, Community and a Mission to Make Care Sustainable

Grace Cares marked its third anniversary on Valentine’s Day – the day it was founded in 2023 because care is at the heart of everything it does – by bringing together volunteers on Friday and then hosting a special companionship tea party for some of the older people it supports.

From the beginning, Grace Cares has had one clear mission: Making Care Sustainable

The award-winning not-for-profit exists to ensure care is environmentally responsible, financially accessible and socially connected.

Three years on, that mission is delivering measurable impact across Staffordshire, West Midlands and beyond.

Three Years of Sustainable Impact

Since launching, Grace Cares has:

♻️ Helped over 3,500 people
♻️ Saved more than 4,000 pieces of care equipment from landfill
♻️ Shown that every £1 invested generates between £4 and £7 in social, economic and environmental value

By rescuing surplus care equipment and redistributing it at affordable prices – alongside hardship support where needed – Grace Cares reduces waste, eases financial pressure on families and unpaid caregivers, and supports a more resilient health and social care system.

Profits are reinvested into community initiatives including companionship tea parties, care club to support unpaid care givers, intergenerational activities and hardship grants – ensuring sustainability is not only environmental, but social and economic too.

Celebrating the People Behind the Mission

The Valentine’s gathering celebrated the volunteers who make sustainable care possible every week – from fixing equipment, warehouse management, van collections and deliveries to administration and community events.

It also honoured the older people and families supported, reinforcing that sustainable care is about more than equipment reuse. It is about dignity, connection and community.

The Next Chapter – Scaling Sustainable Care

Grace Cares’ long-term ambition is bold – to help one million people.

The next milestone is clear: Supporting 10,000 people by the end of 2028.

To achieve this, the organisation’s priorities for the next two quarters include:

Strengthening volunteer roles, recruitment and induction
Developing strategic partnerships
Improving stock management and warehouse efficiency
Delivering a focused external communications plan
Investing in CRM, automation and process improvement
Enhancing the website to improve access and reach

These foundations will enable Grace Cares to scale its sustainable model responsibly and efficiently.

An Invitation to Local Funders and Partners

As Grace Cares enters its fourth year, the message to local businesses, funders, health organisations and community leaders is clear – sustainable care requires collaboration.

From supporting van operations and warehouse improvements to investing in volunteer growth and digital systems, partnership with Grace Cares is not simply charitable giving. It is measurable local impact. With every £1 invested generating between £4 and £7 in value, partners are strengthening the local care system, reducing environmental waste and building more connected communities.

Three years on from launching on Valentine’s Day, Grace Cares continues to prove that care does not have to cost the earth.

Because making care sustainable is not just a mission. It is a shared responsibility – Be the change you want to see.

Photo shows the Grace Cares Tribe

“A Lifeline for Carers”: Growing Care Club Hosts Incontinence Support Session

Grace Cares’ Care Club delivers practical advice, emotional support and connection for unpaid carers across the region.

Care Club met on Monday 26th January for another supportive session, welcoming unpaid caregivers as the club continues to grow. Held in a safe environment, the session gives carers the opportunity to openly discuss their experiences, ask questions and share concerns, while being reassured that they are not alone.

The focus of the session was incontinence care, with practical advice delivered by an experienced incontinence nurse, Paulina Kurek, alongside Michelle Garvey from Ontex. Attendees also received additional wellbeing support from Nicola Forsyth who shared guidance on managing stress and overwhelm through life coaching and effective breathwork techniques to help carers regulate and reset during challenging moments.

Care Club is organised by Grace Cares who are dedicated to supporting unpaid caregivers through education, connection and compassionate support. Each session is designed to combine practical guidance with emotional reassurance, while also signposting caregivers to further resources and services that can help them in their caring role. Grace Cares works alongside trusted partners Ontex, to ensure caregivers receive expert, reliable information on topics that are often difficult to talk about. Paulina from Ontex added: “We’re proud to support Grace Cares’ Care Club in creating open, practical conversations around incontinence, helping people feel informed, supported and less alone.”

For many attendees, the greatest value comes from feeling understood by others in similar situations. One participant shared: “The meetings that I have attended and your team who spoke to me are invaluable to me. Long may it continue. You are providing a lifeline.”

With interest in Care Club continuing to increase, anyone who missed this face-to-face session but would like tips on incontinence care can join the next online Care Club session on 18th February at 1-1.30pm. Care Club sessions are open to unpaid caregivers and family members looking for practical advice, emotional support and connection with others who understand.

To join an upcoming face to face Care Club session, register your interest, or receive the online session link, contact hello@grace-cares.com or call 01543 730189.

L-R – (Paulina and Michelle from Ontex, Hannah from Grace Cares and Nicola from Nicola Kathryn Coaching)

Grace Cares Wins ESG Leader Award at the National Social Care Leadership Awards

Grace Cares has been named the winner of the ESG Leader Award at the Social Care Leadership Awards, held at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.

The national awards celebrate outstanding leadership across the social care sector, recognising individuals and organisations demonstrating excellence in areas such as learning disabilities, dementia care, and home care. The ESG Leader Award specifically honours organisations that exemplify ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable practices within the sector.

The ceremony was hosted by Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE, with the ESG category judged by Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, and Dr Cecilia Anim CBE, former President of the Royal College of Nursing.

The judges commended Grace Cares for its transformative approach to ESG in social care, commenting:

“Grace Cares transforms ESG in social care through a circular, community-powered model. By rescuing and redistributing thousands of care items, reducing carbon emissions, and reinvesting profits into wellbeing initiatives, they deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic impact – driving sustainability, social justice, and sector-wide change.”

Founded in 2023, Grace Cares is a not-for-profit organisation making care more sustainable by rescuing care equipment from landfill, reselling it affordably, and reinvesting profits into initiatives that support older people, unpaid caregivers, and care providers.

Hannah Montgomery, Co-founder of Grace Cares, said:

“This award isn’t just about sustainability, it’s about people. At Grace Cares, we believe in putting people first while respecting our planet. Every item saved, every cup of tea shared, and every act of kindness adds up to real change. None of this would be possible without our incredible tribe of volunteers, partners, and supporters. It really does take a village to make a difference, and I’m so proud of ours. We’re on a mission to bolster social care and ensure it is sustainable because everyone in this country is touched by social care.”

This national recognition highlights Grace Cares’ commitment to driving sustainability, social value, and innovation within the care sector, while supporting communities and protecting the environment.

L-R – Stefan, Karanjeet, Hannah, Rob and Emma Grace Cares Tribe

Grace Cares supports NHS Walking Stick Check Week to keep patients safe and promote sustainability

Grace Cares is proud to support Walking Stick Check Week (13–17 November), an important campaign led by Paul Mills, Falls Prevention Project Lead at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), which aims to prevent avoidable falls caused by poorly maintained walking aids.

The initiative encourages patients, carers, and healthcare professionals to check walking sticks, crutches, and frames for wear and tear, ensuring equipment remains safe and reliable. Worn ferrules, loose handles, or damaged frames can significantly increase the risk of falls, something this campaign seeks to reduce through awareness, education, and action.

Grace Cares, a not-for-profit organisation based in Staffordshire, is working alongside BCHC and other NHS partners to make care delivery more sustainable by promoting the reuse and responsible return of walking aids. Currently, only 20% of walking aids are returned after use, yet if just 2 in 5 were reused, it could save the NHS up to £46,000 each year and reduce carbon emissions by 98% compared to manufacturing new equipment.

To better understand how patients and families can be supported to return their walking aids, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have launched a Walking Aid Return Survey, which takes just five minutes to complete.

💚 Take part in the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/mf7UZpaV2J

Hannah Montgomery, Co-Founder of Grace Cares, said:

“We’re passionate about making care both safer and more sustainable. Walking Stick Check Week highlights how something as simple as checking or returning a walking aid can have a huge impact – preventing falls, saving NHS resources, and protecting our planet.”

Grace Cares works nationally with NHS Trusts, councils, and care providers to rescue, refurbish, and reuse care equipment that would otherwise go to landfill. The organisation’s sustainability model helps improve patient outcomes while reducing environmental impact – ensuring care delivery works for people, communities, and the planet.

L-R (Hannah, James, Karanjeet and Emma) Grace Cares