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Centre for Care

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Faculty of Social Sciences Research Inst

Abstract

The Centre for Care is a collaboration between the universities of Sheffield, Birmingham, Kent and Oxford, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the Office for National Statistics, Carers UK, the National Children's Bureau and the Social Care Institute for Excellence. Working with care sector partners and leading international teams, it addresses the urgent need for new, accessible evidence on care.
Arrangements for care, and people who need or provide care, are under unprecedented pressure. Quality, cost, unmet need and the situation of carers and care workers are central concerns. Care interacts with other systems in the NHS, jobs market and in policy on migration, welfare and housing. The cultures, values and public policies that determine eligibility for support and funding rules are also crucial, and 'shocks' like Covid-19 have profound and multiple effects. Together, these factors have led to fragmented care provision and unfair outcomes, and the need for reform is now widely accepted. The Centre for Care provides new evidence and thinking for policymakers, care sector organisations and for people who need or provide care. Its objectives are to:
- work with people who need care, carers, care workers and others to produce studies that improve understanding of care and promote wellbeing;
- publish robust findings on care systems, on paid and unpaid care, and on diversity, inequalities and sustainability in care;
- exploit existing data and develop new studies, producing findings that policymakers and other researchers can use;
- work with PhD students and emerging scholars, establishing a new generation of care specialists;
- stimulate and inform public discussion of care and translate research into practice; and
- collaborate with other care research teams, within and beyond the UK.
In studying care, we focus on support, services and protections to promote the wellbeing of vulnerable or disabled people of all ages, and the networks, communities and systems that affect them. Our work will generate new knowledge on three major topics:
'Care trajectories and constraints: requiring, receiving and giving care' explores experiences of care at different life stages and as people transition between different parts of the care system. It also studies how giving or receiving care is affected when families are geographically dispersed.
'Inequalities in care: consequences, planning and place' uses latest statistical and data linkage techniques to learn how socio-economic, health and other inequalities shape experience of care, and the consequences of these for groups and individuals in different places and over time.
'Care workforce change: organisation, delivery and development' focuses on care worker recruitment and conditions; regulation and organisation of care work, including the introduction of new technologies; and efforts to improve job and service quality in care.
Cross-cutting these studies, the Centre will also examine 'Care as a complex, adaptive ecosystem', 'Digital care' and Care data infrastructure', supporting the integration of all our research. This helps us develop new thinking on care inequalities, how care ecosystems operate and change, and the drivers and implications of digitalisation and other developments. It also enables us to exploit the UK's finest statistical datasets to produce compelling new insights on care and caring.
Our multidisciplinary research team builds on a strong portfolio of care studies and is supported by researchers in nine other countries, all equally passionate about doing impactful research that can drive positive change in experience of care and caring. Our work is undertaken in partnership with care sector organisations and groups advocating on behalf of people who need care, carers and care workers.
The Centre for Care is vibrant, innovative, and determined to make a positive difference through impactful, accessible research for all to use.

Organisations

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Centre for Care Care Ecosystem model 
Description Graphical representation of the care ecosystem as experienced in England. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Widely used in engagement activities with people with lived experience in Birmingham, Sheffield and through our website. 
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/care-ecosystem/2023/11/flourishing-social-care-ecosystem-lbrodrick/
 
Description The value of unpaid care to the UK economy is £184 bn per year (Petrillo et al, 2024a).

There is a "caring income penalty", with differences in severity according to age, gender and ethnicity. When comparing carers and non-carers an average relative income gap of up to 45%, with an average decrease of £162 in monthly income. There are differences according to gender, age, ethnicity and caring intensity. For example, younger unpaid carers under 25 years old faced the steepest penalty, losing up to £502 each month. Women providing 50 hours or more of unpaid care per week experienced a 30% drop in their earnings compared to a 25% drop for men (Petrillo et al., 2024b)

Caring for primary kin (especially spouses) is linked to lower psychological well-being compared to other caregiving relationships, regardless of care intensity (Zhang et al., 2024).

A review of existing research highlighted that unpaid caring affects financial wellbeing in multiple, overlapping ways, but that these experienced unequally, with systems, circumstances and contexts serving to exacerbate or reduce these negative effects. It also highlighted evidence gaps including qualitative insights into carers' financial wellbeing and individual-level understanding of the long-term financial implications of caring (Watkins and Overton, 2024).

The value of kinship care in England - where a child is looked after by either a family member who is not a parent or friend - is £4.3 billion per year (Petrillo et al., 2025).
Exploitation Route The outcomes presented above are being used by Centre for Care policy and practice partners in their work to influence policy and practice changes, which are ongoing.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Other

 
Description The Centre for Care's Phase 1 studies, spanning a three year period, are due to complete in April 2025. Our studies are producing a variety of outputs, including seven peer-reviewed journal articles; eight reports published in collaboration with sector partners; four Centre for Care working papers; three books (one co-authored and two edited volumes) and one book chapter to date (March 2025). Our work and colleagues have featured across various media outlets, including national and local radio and television (examples include: Sky and ITV News; Panorama; BBC Radio 5, Talk Radio, regional BBC radio stations; The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The i Newspaper and Daily Express), raising the public's understanding of the needs of unpaid carers and issues related to care and caring. The Centre for Care website continues to be a key mechanism for sharing our work with the public, with between 300-500 new and regular visitors each month, and page views consistently over 1,000 each month, meaning users view more than one page on average. The Commentary series has received high levels of engagement, as has the Care Matters podcast series, which has now had 4,200 downloads. At the national policy level, we have contributed to 33 national level official calls for evidence, including 16 parliamentary select committee inquiries, three calls from APPGs (All Party Parliamentary Groups), 12 governmental consultations from the UK's national and devolved governments and arms-length bodies such as NHS England and the EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission). We have also contributed to calls for evidence shared by two think tanks or voluntary sector organisations (Fabian Society and TLAP). We have registered our expertise with three Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) shared by parliamentary select committees or government departments. Prof Kate Hamblin, Dr Grace Whitfield and three CfC Associates were invited to contribute evidence and to be external reviewers for a contributed to two POSTnotes (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology), providing impartial evidence for Parliamentarians on emerging topics of policy interest. Our research findings have been used by parliamentarians in debates in both the House of Commons and House of Lords on issues related to care and caring, and we have worked closely with co-Investigator Carers UK to ensure our outputs are accessible and impactful. Colleagues have been invited to participate in oral evidence sessions on issues related to care and caring: Professor Sue Yeandle and Professor Kate Hamblin gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Select Committee's inquiry, 'Lifting the veil: removing the invisibility of adult social care' on support for unpaid carers and the role of digital technology in care. Professor Catherine Needham was invited to participate in the Scottish Parliament's scrutiny of the National Care Service Bill. A member of BritCits (one of our policy and practice partners) was invited to share their lived experience to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Select Committee, based on the strength of our joint written evidence submission to their inquiry on family migration. Dr Chloe Alexander was invited to present her research on young carers to the APPG on Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Professor Sue Yeandle was invited to give evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee for a non-inquiry session into Carer's Allowance. Professor Sue Yeandle was invited to give oral evidence to a House of Lords Special Committee on the Integration of Primary and Community Care, while its inquiry was in the early stages. Professor Kate Hamblin, Dr Maxine Watkins and Becky Driscoll participated in a roundtable held by Liz Sayce as part of the Independent Review of the Carer's Allowance overpayment scandal. We commissioned Nick Bibby (an expert in social sciences policy engagement and impact) to undertake a review of the quality of our written evidence submissions. He produced a report making a number of recommendations on how to tailor the format, accessibility and language of our submissions for policy audiences. Following this, Nick led an online workshop open to all Centre colleagues in January 2024, focusing on approaches and techniques to help maximise the uptake of evidence submissions by parliamentarians and parliamentary staff and, where helpful, how to repurpose them for other audiences. We have also focused our impact activities on change at local levels and across practice, working with local authorities, Integrated Care Boards and local providers of support to develop resources most attuned to their priorities and the needs of the people they support. One particular example includes the development of a 'dashboard' to enable these stakeholders to understand their local caring populations, and develop appropriate and targeted support. A further example is the work by Centre for Care colleagues in collaboration with Sheffield-based charity Stand As One (a non-profit, independent organisation working with immigrants, asylum and refugees) to facilitate the inclusion of a lived experience and practitioner perspective to the CfC response to a call for evidence on the effects of the UK migration system on poverty. Both colleagues and Stand as One participated in the report's launch event in Westminster and met with Olivia Blake MP, Chair of the APPG on Migration. Colleagues have also supported Stand As One to develop organisational capacity to successfully apply for funding for a 3-month project to support older refugees.
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Other
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description APPG on Migration and the APPG on Poverty into the Effects of UK Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Policy on Poverty
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Centre for Care evidence briefing contributed to a debate on potential merits of a cross government strategy for unpaid carers in House of Commons on 3rd September
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-09-03/debates/54DB3A42-7010-4A6B-B1C7-00D090DF6D50/Unpaid...
 
Description Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) call for evidence on the interaction between the UK immigration system and the social care sector
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Contribution to the scrutiny process to the Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) on the draft Carer's Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Cost of digitising the NHS and social care project Advisory Board.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description DHSC consultation on its proposals for a new workforce pathway in adult social care
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Centre-for-Care-response-to-DHSC-care-workfor...
 
Description Department for Education Children's social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love consultation
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Department of Health and Social Care Older People's Housing Taskforce
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RESPONSE-Older-People-Housing-Task-Force.pdf
 
Description Health in an ageing society.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2023-health-in-an-ag...
 
Description House of Commons Business & Trade Select Committee: Make work pay, Employment Rights Bill inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee inquiry: 'Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/109852/pdf/
 
Description House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) inquiry: 'Connected tech: smart or sinister?'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/109377/pdf/
 
Description House of Commons Health & Social Care Committee inquiry: 'Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmhealth/115/report.html
 
Description House of Commons Health & Social Care Select Committee - inquiry on Adult social care reform: the costs of inaction
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee inquiry: 'Lifting the veil: removing the invisibility of adult social care'.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact Prof Yeandle and Dr Hamblin's oral evidence directly fed into the development of three recommendations: Recommendation 10) The Government must commission an independent public review of the Care Act 2014 and work with local authorities to ensure that the Act is fully implemented by the end of this Parliament. The Commissioner for Care and Support should make it a priority to ensure that the review, update and implementation of the Act happens in practice. (Paragraph 229) Recommendation 25) The Government must ensure that any testing of ideas related to care technology is done in co-production with people with lived experience. (Paragraph 360) Recommendation 26) The Government should create a research and development network for the sharing of technological innovation between social care stakeholders, similar to the NHS R&D Forum. (Paragraph 361)
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HoL-Evidence-All-sections_FINAL-2.pdf
 
Description House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee inquiry on the UK labour supply.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/111874/pdf/
 
Description House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee inquiry on Family Migration.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The submission, led by CfC, brought BritCits to the attention of the committee and resulted in a representative from the organisation being invited to present evidence. Members of the House of Lords committee commented that the witnesses had changed their thinking and they expressed regret at the Home Office's handling of the situations described in the evidence.
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/event/15054/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Description House of Lords Select Committee to the integration of primary and community care.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Integration-of-primary-and-community-care-dra...
 
Description Independent review of Carer's Allowance overpayments linked to earnings
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-carers-allowance-overpayments-terms...
 
Description Mind the Gap: tackling digital exclusion board game
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/mind-the-gap-tackling-digital-exclusion/
 
Description NHS 10 year plan consultation
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Northern Ireland Department of Health consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Needham-Centre-for-Care-response-to-the-NI-co...
 
Description POSTNote: Innovation in adult social care
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0670/
 
Description Political influence: Valuing Carers 2021: England and Wales Report
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The report was quoted in the passing of the Carers Leave Bill and quoted in a BBC Politics article and the Independent. This Bill will give all employees in the UK right to 5 days unpaid care leave a year to support unpaid carers remain in work.
 
Description Post-legislative scrutiny of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Professor Sue Yeandle gave evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/f48512d1-a1cb-4941-ad17-b083bf7894f1
 
Description Public Accounts Committee inquiry, Reforming Adult Social Care in England
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care & Sport Committee scrutiny session
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The question posed by the Centre was discussed in Committee on the 12th September 2023
URL https://engage.parliament.scot/post/86642
 
Description Select Committee Area of Research Interest: Unpaid carers
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Senedd Cymru's Health and Social Care Committee's general scrutiny session with the Ministers responsible for health and social care.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://business.senedd.wales/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=737&MId=12965&Ver=4
 
Description TLAP call for evidence: social care workforce values
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) draft roadmap, 'Care data matters: a roadmap for better data for adult social care'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CfC-response-to-Care-data-matters-roadmap-con...
 
Description The Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) Statutory Review 2023
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Equality-and-Human-Rights-Commission-EHRC...
 
Description The Fabian Society's call for evidence for a 'Roadmap to a National Care Service' in England.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Centre-for-Care-submission-to-the-Fabian-Soci...
 
Description The House of Commons' Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into prevention
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/118036/pdf/
 
Description The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee an inquiry into digital exclusion and the cost of living
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/119056/pdf/
 
Description The Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee call for views about the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://yourviews.parliament.scot/health/national-care-service-bill/consultation/view_respondent?sho...
 
Description The Welsh Government Rebalancing care and support programme consultation
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FINAL-RESPONSE-10-Aug-2023.pdf
 
Description West Midlands ADASS
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact This report, included recommendations for the region which will be reviewed and implemented in practise.
URL https://www.wm-adass.org.uk/media/bnqlpdm1/cqc-readiness-report-needham-burn-f1.pdf
 
Description Border Struggles in Doing Family
Amount £65,000 (GBP)
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 09/2026
 
Description Crook Fellowship: Digital exclusion and unpaid carers in South Yorkshire
Amount £3,500 (GBP)
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2023 
End 12/2023
 
Description Crook Public Service Fellowship and ESRC IAA
Amount £3,000 (GBP)
Funding ID X/014889 
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description Exploring the impact of digital technologies on health and wellbeing outcomes
Amount £65,000 (GBP)
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 09/2026
 
Description Knowledge Exchange Fund
Amount £44,742 (GBP)
Funding ID X/180194 
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 02/2024
 
Description Knowledge Exchange Fund
Amount £28,958 (GBP)
Funding ID X/182391 
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2023 
End 07/2024
 
Description NIHR RSS for social care research
Amount £4,900,000 (GBP)
Organisation National Institute for Health Research 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2025 
End 09/2028
 
Description NIHR School for Social Care Research
Amount £31,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation National Institute for Health Research 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2024 
End 04/2029
 
Description Research Stimulation Fund
Amount £7,650 (GBP)
Funding ID 320323 
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2023 
End 07/2024
 
Description Storying Life Courses for Intersectional Inclusion: Ethnicity and Wellbeing Across Time and Place
Amount £1,114,718 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/W012383/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 10/2025
 
Description The impact of the digitalisation of social care on older informal carers
Amount £44,742 (GBP)
Organisation Higher Education Funding Council for England 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2023 
End 12/2023
 
Description Young Carers: Care experiences, service use and outcomes
Amount £65,000 (GBP)
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 09/2026
 
Title ESRC Centre for Care github 
Description ESRC Centre for Care github repository 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Reflects the Centre for Care's commitment to open science. 
URL https://github.com/centre-for-care
 
Description Care England 
Organisation Care England
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution PI Prof Sue Yeandle participated in the Care England forum with care sector businesses in July 2022 (Stratford-upon-Avon).
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £15,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £3000 in-kind contribution per year. Care England CEO Prof Martin Green is on the CfC Advisory Board.
Impact None
Start Year 2021
 
Description Care Quality Commission (CQC) 
Organisation Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution CfC team have shared research findings and plans via advisory board meetings and engagement activities including social media and the newsletter.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. David James, Head of Adult Social Care Policy at the Care Quality Commission, is on the CfC Advisory Board and has attended in person and online advisory board meetings.
Impact None
Start Year 2021
 
Description Carers Scotland 
Organisation Carers UK
Department Carers Scotland
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Valuing Carers Scotland report: New research from Carers Scotland and the Centre for Care have valued the labour of carers in Scotland at £15.9 billion, based on new statistics from Scotland's 2022 census.
Collaborator Contribution Carers Scotland and Centre for Care collaborated to produce a report named Valuing Carers Scotland. The report was launched on Carers Rights Day 2024, 21st November at an event held in Scottish Parliament to an audience of 50 people including policy makers, carers organisations and individuals with lived experience. Findings and recommendations were discussed. A Presentation was provided by the Centre for Care research team Matt Bennett, Maria Petrillo, and Jingwen Zhang.
Impact Press release report shared on social media with a video alongside explaining the findings and recommendations
Start Year 2024
 
Description Carers UK 
Organisation Carers UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Madeleine Starr MBE, Director of Business Development and Innovation at Carers UK is paid a co-investigator partner of the Centre for Care. CfC researchers have analysed Understanding Society data to provide up-to-date UK figures on the number of people starting/ending unpaid care each year. This was released in collaboration with Carers UK and generated local and national media interest. Policy professionals in Carers UK have met with CfC Impact Specialist Rachael Black and RA Becky Driscoll to explore shared priorities and link with the wider work of the CfC including meeting Co-I Dr L Overton to explore the impact of caring on pensions. March 2023-We are collaborating with Melanie Crew, Senior Policy and Research Officer at Carers UK, Good Things Foundation and The TUoS Information School to work on a Knowledge Exchange Funded project to raise awareness of the issues related to digitalisation and social care from the perspective of older carers who are digitally excluded and in so doing encourage more inclusive and evidence-based policy making. We have funded and conducted this project resulting in key recommendations (consolidating ours and our partners' findings) for supporting older carers who are digitally excluded. 2023 CfC researchers have analysed Census data to provide up-to-date UK figures on the value of unpaid care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This was released in collaboration with Carers UK and generated local and national media interest and was quoted in parliament in the passing of the Carers Leave Act.
Collaborator Contribution Co-I Madeleine Starr MBE, sits the CfC Impact Leadership group and Voice Forum working group. She has delivered training about impact to the CfC team in October 2022. Carers UK have supported us to develop impact planning tools and start developing a Theory of Change. Madeleine attended the CfC Annual Meeting in November 2022. 2022/2023 Madeleine continues to sit on the ILG and has commented on researcher's Impact Plans. She has also contributed to plans to create an Impact Budget that researchers can bid for. Madeleine sits on our Voice Forum Working Group and has contributed to plans to refresh and expand the membership of the Voice Forum. On 7th-8th Nov 2023 she attended the Centre for Care Annual General Meeting in Sheffield and participated in a live podcast recording as part of the Festival of Social Sciences. The podcast explored the digitalisation of Social Care. Policy professionals from Carers UK have contributed to General Election planning meetings with CfC so that we can understand each other's election priorities and how to share messaging. Melanie has supported with the KE Funded project, she has facilitated and attended focus groups and supported us to make dissemination plans.
Impact Report: 'Cycles of caring: transitions in and out of unpaid care', based on CfC research (RA Dr M Petrillo, Co-Is Profs M Bennett & G Pryce, was released by Carers UK on Carers Rights Day (24 Nov 2022) providing up-to-date UK figures on the number of people starting/ending unpaid care each year. Co-I Madeleine Starr delivered training to CfC team about how Carers UK have impact from their work. Impact planning template Training material about impact with policy makers Report 'Valuing Carers 2021 England and Wales' (RA Dr M Petrillo, Co-Is Profs M Bennett, was released by Carers UK May 2023) Report 'Valuing Carers NI' (RA Dr J Zhang, RA Dr M Petrillo & Co-Is Prof M Bennett was released by Carers UK on Carers Rights Day 23 Nov 2023) Podcast: AI, Sensors and Robots: What is Next for Social Care in the UK? (recorded 7th Nov 2023)
Start Year 2021
 
Description Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 
Organisation Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Co-I Prof M Bennett is working with BEIS to explore the need/potential for a new Survey of Carers, and potential for data linkage on experiences of carers across the life course. July 2022- The CfC submitted evidence to the BEIS Committee inquiry: 'Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets'. Drawing on our research and the lived experience of care workers and care providers to highlight the shortages of workers in social care; the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the sector; workers' rights and protections; and the impact of the ageing population
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. BEIS prepare/attend meetings, participate in discussions. Ongoing exploration of ways BEIS can incorporate CfC research into its outputs.
Impact Meeting preparation/attendance, ongoing discussions
Start Year 2021
 
Description Department of Health and Social Care 
Organisation Government of the UK
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Active support and negotiations with CfC and other government Depts, incl. use of CfC research evidence to develop planned new Survey of Carers July 2023 Researchers from the Care Workforce Group met Grace Blenheim and colleagues from the DHSC to discuss the proposed Care Workforce Pathway following an evidence submission from the CFC.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. Prepared and participated in meetings, ongoing discussions. DHSC led an Expert Led session facilitated by Co-I Dr Hamblin in June 2022
Impact CfC Submission to Inquiries: May 2023 Care workforce pathway for adult social care: call for evidence Sept 2023 Older People's Housing Taskforce - call for evidence
Start Year 2021
 
Description Department of Work and Pensions 
Organisation Department for Work and Pensions
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution DWP colleagues contributed to discussions about potential plans and value of a new Survey of Carers, specifying how this would support DWP's work. Co-I Dr L Overton and RA Dr M Watkins are liaising with DWP's 50 plus choices team to discuss how the earliest choices about care can influence outcomes. May 2023 RA Dr M Watkins MW attended the Care Choices workshop hosted by DWP, this was attended by other stakeholders working in social care, including representatives from different government departments. Nov 23 PI Prof S Yeandle and RA B Driscoll participated in a DWP Link Seminar exploring the history of the Carers Allowance, issues with it's design and how financial support for carers can be reformed.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. Preparation for and participation in meetings and discussions
Impact DWP Link Seminar: Carers Allowance
Start Year 2021
 
Description Good Things Foundation 
Organisation Good Things Foundation
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have collaborated with Good Things Foundation, Carers UK and The TUoS Information School to work on a Knowledge Exchange Funded project to raise awareness of the issues related to digitalisation and social care from the perspective of older carers who are digitally excluded and in so doing encourage more inclusive and evidence-based policy making. We have funded and conducted the project resulting in key recommendations (consolidating ours and our partners' findings) for supporting older carers who are digitally excluded.
Collaborator Contribution Good Things Foundation have supported with facilitating focus groups, disseminating findings and participating in a live podcast recording.
Impact Live podcast recording (to be launch March 2024)
Start Year 2023
 
Description Health and Ageing Research Team (HART) at Massey University 
Organisation Massey University
Country New Zealand 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution PI Prof Sue Yeandle and Co-I Prof Matt Bennett engaged with Massey University's major research proposal on 'Pathways to Sustainable Ageing' as potential International Advisors. This is being prepared for NZ's Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Prof Bennett is invited to give a seminar at Massey in 2024.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. Spring 2023 Co-I Prof M Bennett met with Fiona Alpass and colleagues Massey to discuss potential topics related to ageing, sleep and predictive analytics projects. June 2023 Massey colleagues presented a Symposium, Negotiating care in the context of multiple commitments: Combining paid work and informal care across the lifespan, as part of the Transforming Care Conference hosted by the University of Sheffield.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network) 
Organisation Housing Learning and Improvement Network
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Sept 2022: Co-I Dr K Hamblin gave presentation at Housing LIN HAPPI Hour event https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/HAPPI-Hour-Di gital-Telecare-How-ready-are-we-for-the-digital-sw tch/ Positive feedback: 'Extremely interesting and much needed with great speakers - thank you! Very informative, honest and helpful.'
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £15,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £3000 in-kind contribution per year. Shared resources and information about CfC events and seminars
Impact Presentation: How Ready are we for the Digital Switch?
Start Year 2021
 
Description IMPACT 
Organisation Impact
Country Canada 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We funded and supported the delivery of the English Policy Roundtable event.
Collaborator Contribution We have collaborated with IMAPCT on a number of outputs including the commentary series Transitions that Matter and a podcast exploring values based recruitment. We have worked with IMPACT to deliver a policy roundtable event held in Birmingham in January 2024.
Impact Podcasts Commentaries Events
Start Year 2021
 
Description INRCA IRCCS's Centre for Socio- Economic Research on Ageing 
Organisation Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing
Country Italy 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Invitation to attend events to present work, share learning and build networks. CfC hosted an International Partners Event in June 2022. IRCCS's Centre for Socio- Economic Research on Ageing attended and presented at this event.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £170000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £34000 in-kind contribution per year this includes linking PhD students with the CfC. Attended and presented at the CfC International Partners Event in June 2022. Further collaborations being explored June 2023 Federico Sofritti presented Implementing coordinated multi-level strategies to contrast inequalities among informal carers in Italy at the Transforming Care Conference hosted at the University of Sheffield
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Informal Carers, Care and Caring Research Group at the Linnaeus University (LNU) and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre (SFCCC) 
Organisation Linnaeus University
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Invitation to attend events to present work, share learning and build networks. CfC hosted an International Partners Event in June 2022. The Informal Carers, Care and Caring Research Group attended and presented at this event.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind value contribution of £30,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average value of £6000 in-kind contribution per year. Attended and presented at the CfC International Partners Event in June 2022. Further collaborations being explored June 2023 Linnaeus colleagues presented during 'Symposium2-Breaking boundaries: bringing together academia, policy and practice to make change in time of crisis' at the Transforming Care Conference hosted by the University of Sheffield.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Liberal Democrats political party 
Organisation Liberal Democrat party
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Research has been used by the Liberal democrat political party to strengthen their argument when promoting the needs of unpaid carers. The Centre for Care provided Wendy Chamberlain, MP with an evidence briefing which included research findings. These findings were cited in a parliamentary debate on the 3rd of Sept 2024. Following this the Centre for Care contacted Wendy Chamberlain to further discuss the Centres research and policy influencing plans. As a result a policy breakfast event will be co hosted with Wendy Chamberlain and the Centre for Care in Westminster to discuss the case the paid Carers Leave.
Collaborator Contribution Liberal democrat party members and the party has cited Centre for Care research in numerous publications and in parliament.
Impact Policy breakfast event: 19th March 2025 Hosted in Westminster with Wendy Chamberlain, MP (The case the paid carers leave) Policy breakfast event: 14th May 2025 Hosted in Westminster with Steve Darling, MP (care allowance reform)
Start Year 2024
 
Description Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG), University of Lisbon 
Organisation University of Lisbon
Country Portugal 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Ricardo Rodrigues is an Assistant Professor at the School of Economics & Management of Universidade de Lisboa (ISEG-ULisboa) in May 2023 Prof Rodrigues visited the Centre for Care and delivered a research workshop: 'Inequalities in caregiving, unmet need and use of care' June 2023 Prof Rodrigues attended the Transforming Care Conference hosted by the University of Sheffield.
Collaborator Contribution Ongoing work with the Care Inequalities Research group on a project exploring Gender inequalities and cohort trajectories. Data access applications submitted September 2023
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description National Children's Bureau 
Organisation National Children's Bureau
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Keith Clements, Senior Researcher at NCB is a paid co-investigator partner of the CfC. CfC are working with NCB to develop research around children and young people. We will work collaboratively to bring together NCB and University of Sheffield colleagues to develop research plans and questions. We have amplified NCB research through our submissions to government inquiries, our social media channels and our work on the General Election.
Collaborator Contribution Co-I Keith Clements participates in the CfC Impact Leadership Group (ILG) and Voice Forum working group. NCB colleagues have supported CfC to develop impact planning tools and plan for a centre wide Theory of Change. Keith contributed a Commentary to our website and with NCB colleagues, co-delivered a workshop about research with children and young people. Keith attended the CfC Annual Meeting in November 2022. 2023/23 Keith continues to sit on the ILG and has commented on researcher's Impact Plans. He has also contributed to plans to create an Impact Budget that researchers can bid for. Keith is working on the development of the Children and Families research theme with Centre researcher Becky Driscoll and Deputy Director Nathan Hughes. In addition Keith facilitated a meeting about a submission to the DfE Consultation into Children's Social Care: Stable Homes, Built on Love consultation and fed into our General Election Planning. He sits on our Voice Forum Working Group and has contributed to plans to refresh and expand the membership of the Voice Forum . 7th Nov 2023 Keith attended the Centre for Care Annual General Meeting in Sheffield.
Impact Commentary piece Impact planning template Collaborated with NCB to respond to the Department of Education's call for evidence on their consultation into Children's Social Care: Stable Homes, Built on Love consultation Impact Budget Plans
Start Year 2021
 
Description Norwegian Centre for Care Research, West, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 
Organisation Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Country Norway 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Hosted an international partners event in Summer 2022 which the Norwegian Centre for Care Research attended. This event has led to further collaborations and information sharing
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £75000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This includes linking PhD students to the CfC Attended and presented at the CfC international partners event in June 2022. This event has led to further collaborations and information sharing Autumn 2022 Online meeting with Research Group A: Care trajectories and constraints June 2023 Western Norway University of Applied Sciences presented at the Centre for Care panel - Whole system reform in social care at the Transforming Care Conference hosted by the University of Sheffield
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description ONS 
Organisation Office for National Statistics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The ONS is a CfC Co-Investigator. Dr S John, Head of Social Care Analysis, with other ONS colleagues has explored ways of working with CfC team members, kept us briefed on data releases, incl. plans for release of Census 2021 data and discussed CfC research plans. She is external adviser on three CfC PhD students based at Univs of Sheffield & Birmingham. Dr S John/ONS have participated in multiple CfC training sessions, events and meetings in 2022-23.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £60,000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £12000 in-kind contribution per year. ONS participate in CfC Impact Leadership group and have delivered training about Impact to CfC researchers. They have worked with the Care Data research group on their research plans and outputs. Dr John contributed a commentary in February 2023 to the CfC website exploring census data and numbers of unpaid carers. 2023-Dr John has moved to a new role so we are waiting for her replacement to start and continue the work with the Centre for Care.
Impact Training materials on engaging with policy makers delivered January 2023 Commentary piece on census data and unpaid carers
Start Year 2021
 
Description Sheffield City Council 
Organisation Sheffield City Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution CfC staff have met with Sheffield City Council (SCC) in centre-wide activities (introductory meetings) and productive contacts with specific CfC Research Groups / Themes (Care Inequalities, Care Data Infrastructure, Care Ecosystems, Digital Care). May 2022: meetings with K Damiral, SCC Practice Devt Coordinator, Engagement & Involvement; C Watson, SCC Partnerships & Regional Engagement, leading to contact with A Chappell (Director, SCC Adult Health & Social Care) and J Cameron (Social Care Lead, ICB), and productive meetings (Jul 22): CfC team & Campbell (Leadership Support Manager, NHS) on unpaid carers data, followed by monthly meetings (CfC, NHS, SCC, ICS) to explore ongoing collaboration, incl. with Commissioner for Unpaid Carers L Teasdale-Smith. Jan 2023: CfC Co-Is briefed P Higgingbottom (SCC Strategic Commissioning Manager) on CfC Care Ecosystems and Digital Care work, further meetings planned. Feb 2023: CfC Impact Specialist Dr R Black met K Damiral re SCC's Citizen Involvement Project to explore possible shared event on challenges/opportunities in co-production. March 2023: SCC colleagues attended CfC Launch. Dr K Hamblin has continued to work with P Higgingbottom on the SCC Tests of Change programme. September 2023 Dr R Black co-delivered 2 workshops for SCC commissioners about working with Universities. The workshops were led by Jennifer Llewellyn - Research and Knowledge Transfer Practitioner SCHARR. These sessions led to making contacts with commissioners in children's social care. Oct 2023 PI Prof S Yeandle presented at the Carers Roadshow, a collaboration between Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Carers Centre December 2023 Co-I Prof M Kilkey, RA Dr J Lingham and Dr R Black met Kate Damiral and colleagues from commissioning to discuss barriers to engaging with seldom heard communities and learning from CfC research.
Collaborator Contribution SCC staff have contributed time and expertise. August 2024 Sheffield City Council Director of Adult Social Care, Alexis Chappell led a partnership meeting bringing together commissioners, service providers, third sector organisations and research. Centre for Care Impact Specialist Fay Benskin proposed meetings were held on a monthly basis and hosted by the Centre for Care. Centre for Care team have facilitated 4 partnership meetings and explored topics including Unpaid carers in Sheffield, Prevention, Care workforce and Climate friendly care. Centre for Care researchers have presented their work to the group and opportunities for collaboration and bringing together research and practice. Further meetings are scheduled to turn ideas into practice using theory of change methods and action learning sets. As a result of the Partnership board meetings further collaborations and links have been formed. Sheffield City Council Commissioner Andrew Wallace Parkin attended the Care workforce meeting. He sought a further meeting with Centre for Care Impact Specialist and RA Becky Driscoll to discuss research evidence in support of the LGBTQ+ older peoples housing offer. Andrew was connected with Centre researchers and wider contacts to further inform him project. He is now working closely with Dr PJ Annand from the Centre for Care on a partnership project to offer LGBTQ+ housing for older adults in Sheffield. September 2023 Sheffield City Council invited Dr K Hamblin to present at Sheffield's TEC Transformation and Tests of Change Conference. Following this Impact Specialist, Dr R Black, met the Head of Adult Social care Alexis Chappell and Chief Social Worker Dawn Bassinder. A wider meeting between Dawn, Alexis and CfC researchers took place on Tuesday 30th January 2024. Alexis introduced CfC colleagues to others in SCC including the Carers Leads in commissioning.
Impact None yet, discussions ongoing
Start Year 2022
 
Description Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA) 
Organisation Sheffield And District African Caribbean Community Association
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution CfC have worked with SADACCA in May 2022 to develop our submission to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Inquiry: Lifting the Veil. CfC Impact Specialist, Rachael Black, developed a summary of the submission to be shared on the SADACCA website. The Care Trajectories and Constraints Research Group continue to work with SADACCA in fieldwork and Knowledge Exchange Activities.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £20000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £4000 in-kind contribution per year. SADACCA staff and members worked with CfC team members in May 2022 to develop our submission to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Inquiry: Lifting the Veil. SADACCA is also actively involved in co-producing our research, with a coproduction meeting facilitated in January 2023. Time and expertise is contributed, with small sums paid to participants in line with best practice guidance on co-production.
Impact Submission to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Inquiry May 2022
Start Year 2021
 
Description Skills for Care 
Organisation Skills for Care
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Centre for Care researcher, Shereen Hussein, has previously worked with Skills for Care and shared research findings and learning.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £24000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £4800 in-kind contribution per year. Skills for Care met with Centre for Care researchers in May 2022 to discuss adult social care workforce datasets and the potential for data linkages. Skills for Care attended an in person meeting with the care workforce research group in Sheffield in January 2023 discussing Skills for Care data, the proposed care workforce group research questions and a timeline of activities. Follow up meeting to be arranged for April October 2022 Centre for Care researchers attended the Skills for Care Launch event of their report 'The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England'
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Social Care Institute for Excellence 
Organisation Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution SCIE are a paid co-investigator partner of the CfC. CfC have amplified SCIE research through our submissions to government inquiries, our social media and our work on the General Election. 24th October 2024: SCIE facilitated roundtable events in 4 locations to explore 'care equity'. SCIE requested support from Centre for Care to invite local professionals and those with lived experience to contribute to the discussion. Centre for Care Impact Specialist shared the invitation with researchers and people working in the sector including homelessness, substance misuse, council commissioners, learning disabilities, voluntary sector, care providers. 35 people attended and contributed to the roundtable discussion.
Collaborator Contribution Rebekah Luff, Senior Research Analyst with SCIE and Fay Benskin Centre for Care Impact Specialist had a joint application accepted for the post of Policy and Practice Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange co Lead within the Centre for Care. The role is focussed on Promoting dialogue and knowledge exchange on challenges in care in a programme of online/media and KE activities, translating research into practice and working with care sector partners to inform the public about care. SCIE sit on the CfC Impact Leadership Group and Voice Forum working group. They have supported us to develop impact planning tools and start to develop Theory of Change. Rebekah Luff, Senior Research Analyst, has contributed a Commentary to our website and delivered training to CfC researchers, professional service staff and associates in January 2023 about engaging with policy makers. SCIE attended a partners meeting with the care workforce research group in March 2022 to discuss care worker recruitment, job satisfaction and data analysis. Rebekah attended the CfC Annual Meeting in November 2022. 2022/2023 Rebekah continues to sit on the ILG and has commented on researcher's Impact Plans. She has also contributed to plans to create an Impact Budget that researchers can bid for. Rebekah facilitated a meeting with SCIE colleagues about a submission to the Older People's Housing Taskforce and fed into our General Election planning. Rebekah sits on our Voice Forum Working Group and has contributed to plans to refresh and expand the membership of the Voice Forum. She attended the Voice Forum in Feb 2024 to share findings from a co-production project SCIE delivered and facilitate a conversation with the Voice Forum to explore the next steps of the group. 7th Nov 2023 she attended the Centre for Care Annual General Meeting in Sheffield.
Impact Training material Commentary piece Meeting minutes Consulted on a submission to the Older People's Housing Taskforce (Department of Health and Social Care).
Start Year 2021
 
Description Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) 
Organisation University of New South Wales
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Introductory meetings between CfC and SPRC researchers
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £25000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £5000 in-kind contribution per year.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description TLAP 
Organisation Think Local Act Personal
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The Digital Care team in the Centre for Care started co-producing this project in April 2023 with a group of people from Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) with lived experience of care and support including people using paid or unpaid care, and families members of people using care. Centre for Care researchers were motivated by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and TLAP principles of co-production, which highlight values of equality, diversity, accessibility, and reciprocity - while they aim these principles towards improving service provision, they are also relevant to research. Additionally, reflections from the group emphasise that research is overly driven by government or by industry rather than people with understanding of care needs driving the research, and co-production is a way of countering that. What has been achieved:
Collaborator Contribution We co designed the research together with an aim to explore 'technologies that matter', or what people use to live full lives. Fieldwork began in May 2024 (with 26 participants interviewed so far) and we are now starting on the collaborative analysis to coproduce outputs. Members of the group have also presented early findings, for example at internal conferences and a conference for care commissioners.
Impact Co delivered a workshop to 65 attendees at the Adult Social Care Commissioners conference in Dec 2024. Showcasing the Digital exclusion board game alongside a panel of individuals with lived experience from TLAP.
Start Year 2023
 
Description TUC 
Organisation Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Co-I Tom Hunt and RA Duncan Fisher met with Abigail Hunt and Conor McGurran from the TUC to discuss research plans and questions regarding worker organising amongst care workers.
Collaborator Contribution The estimated in-kind contribution value of £20000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £5000 in-kind contribution per year Kudsia Batool, Head of Equalities and Strategy, is on the CfC Advisory Board and has attended online and face to face meeting. 2023 Kudsia Batoo continues to sit of the CfC advisory board
Impact None yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description University of JYVÄSKYLÄ Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care (CoEAgeCare) 
Organisation University of Jyvaskyla
Country Finland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution CfC hosted an international partners event enabling CoE Age Care to share their work and build new collaborations
Collaborator Contribution 170000 The estimated in-kind value of £170000 is across the life of this award (2021-2026). This is an average of £34000 in-kind contribution per year and includes linking PhD students with the CfC. CoE Age Care colleagues participated in/presented at the inaugural CfC European partners' event (June 2022). CoE PI Prof Teppo Kröger also recorded a Care Matters CfC podcast based on his recent book. CoE colleagues shared information about their work and outputs. June 2023 CoE Age Care colleagues presented the paper 'What makes integrated care system for older people get closer to the community?' at the Transforming Care Conference hosted at the University of Sheffield.
Impact Care Matters Podcast episode October 2022 https://sustainablecare.podbean.com/e/care-poverty-when-older-people-s-needs-remain-unmet/
Start Year 2021
 
Description Article in The Conversation: Why are so many of England's care workers migrants? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact September 12th 2024 Article by Professor Majella Kilkey published in The Conversation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-of-englands-care-workers-migrants-238160
 
Description Care Choices workshop hosted by DWP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact May 2023 RA Dr M Watkins attended the Care Choices workshop hosted by DWP. This was attended by other stakeholders working in social care, including representatives from different government departments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Care Matters Podcast Series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The CfC transitioned the 13 'Care Matters' podcasts (first developed near the end of the ESRC Large Grant award 'Sustainable Care') into a centrepiece of the CfC's output targeted at non-academic audiences.

Each podcast is on average 38 mins long and explores care/caring issues. Topics have included: experiences of unpaid carers; care poverty; the European Care Strategy 2022; digital care.
14 podcast episodes were released between Nov 2021 (start of CfC) and Jan 2023. CfC podcasts average 86 downloads. Since the start of the Care Matters series in July 2020 there have been 4,337 podcast downloads. Podcasts include invited participants (academics, third sector organisations, people with lived experience, policy makers) and one or more CfC team members, typically in host or discussant roles. The podcasts aim to make a positive difference to how care is understood, experienced and provided, and are produced by Digital & Communications Coordinator Dan Williamson. So far, episodes have been downloaded in the UK, USA, Ireland, Australia, Germany. On release they are shared via the CfC website, social media (Twitter, LinkedIn), CfC newsletter and by CfC partner organisations.

Since Feb 2023 there have been 8 episodes of the podcast including a live recording as part of the Festival of Social Sciences. The topics have covered the care workforce, social care reform, Values-based recruitment in Adult Social Care, reflections on the House of Lords Adult Social Care Inquiry, AI, Sensors & Robots: what is next for Social Care in the UK? and social care across the 4 nations. Each podcast is on average 40 mins long. The podcasts since Jan 23 have averaged 92 downloads. In addition the Centre for Care has been contacted by two organisations who have heard the podcast and want to be guests on future episodes. These are two national charities: We Are Campaign and Dementia Carers Count. They contacted the Centre via the Centre for Care website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025
URL https://sustainablecare.podbean.com/
 
Description Centre for Care Commentary Series 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The CfC began publishing pieces in its Commentary Series in Sep 2022. Commentary pieces are written by CfC researchers, people with lived experience, and CfC practice and policy partners. Covering any issue within the CfC remit, so far commentaries have discussed: 'carer identification'; care workers' pay; care worker demographics; the impact of caring on pensions; and transitions in care. By Jan 2023 the CfC had released 13 commentaries averaging 87 page views (in total, 960 views). Outcomes include responses by policymakers, practitioners and journalists on social media (e.g. journalist Elizabeth Mistry responded to CfC's Commentary on the impact of reducing work to care tweeting that: 'Those who reduce their hours - or give up paid work altogether in order to be a full time #UnpaidCarer are not only putting their career and health at risk but jeopardising their future financial situation. #UnpaidCarers subsidise the NHS and suffer as a result #ValueCarers". CfC Commentaries are shared on the CfC website, social media and the CfC newsletter.

Since February 2023 CfC has released 18 commentaries averaging 69 page views (in total, 1,235 views). Outcomes include responses by policymakers, practitioners, academics and journalists on social media e.g. Professor of Practice at University of Birmingham Adele Atkinson posting a reply to a commentary on the financial risks of transitioning into older age on LinkedIn: 'Thanks for sharing this article. It highlights many issues and clearly shows how hard it is to have financial resilience when you're claiming support- a contradictory situation that needs addressing.
Leonore Riitsalu, Rauno Pello, I think you will find this interesting.'
Statistics on mentions and replies on X throughout 2023 cannot be gathered due to changes in the Twitter/X platform; in Jan-Feb 2024 we received 9 mentions.
CfC Commentaries are shared on the CfC website, social media and the CfC newsletter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/commentary/
 
Description Centre for Care Newsletter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The aim of the CfC newsletter is to share details of our work in an accessible way and drive audiences to the website where they can find further information on CfC research, opportunities for engagement, recruitment opportunities and publications.
Between May 2022 and February 2023 there have been 5 editions of the newsletter issued. There are over 700 subscribers as of March 2025 to the newsletter. Engagement with the newsletter is monitored by 'clicks' (every time a link is opened from the newsletter).
January 2022: 1,143 'clicks; May 2022: 109; October 2022: 330; December 2022: 365; February 2023: Data not yet collected.

(January 2022 was particularly high as 12 RA posts with the Centre were advertised which generated considerable engagement).

Between February 2023 and January 2024 there have been 3 editions of the newsletter. There are 691 subscribers to the newsletter.
Engagement with the newsletter is monitored by 'clicks' (every time a link is opened from the newsletter)
July 2023: 348 clicks; October 2023: 231 clicks; December 2023: 251 clicks. Feb 2023: 234 clicks

Between March 2024 and March 2025 there have been 3 publications of the Centre for Care newsletter. April 2024: 234 clicks, Dec 2024: 865 clicks, Feb 2025 (Summer School special): 558 clicks
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024,2025
 
Description Centre for Care Seminar Series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Feb 2025: Seminar: "Safety is Number One, Healthcare is Number Two": Care and Emigration Aspirations in the U.S.
Dec 2024: Seminar: International Care Labour Markets and Ethical Recruitment, Dr Isabel Shutes
Oct 2024: Seminar: Non-traditional forms of later-life care in India, Dr Jagriti Gangopadhyay
July 2024: Seminar: Understanding suicide and homicide risk in unpaid carers, Dr Siobhan O'Dwyer
May 2024: Seminar: Community care workers' access to hygiene facilities: the right to working conditions which "respect health, safety and dignity"
May 2024: Seminar: Health inequalities across older adults cared for by daughters and sons in modernising China
March 2024: Seminar: Long-Term Care: from the individual experiences to the global context
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024,2025
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/seminar-series/
 
Description Centre for Care website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Website update 2024 to 2025
Pages views: 14,931
Our most popular pages after the top landing page (Centre for Care home page) are commentaries and updates, showing that posting regular new content, like commentaries and news items, and promoting this to our audiences is driving traffic to the website.
Users: 4,159
More than half of all users find our website through Search Engines, which shows that Search Engine Optimisation methods employed are working, putting us first, or very high up in search engine results.
Engagement rate: 58% (generally considered to be a good engagement rate across similar industry websites)
Links to our pages are widely shared on social media, and included in every press release to regional, national and international media outlets.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024,2025
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/
 
Description Engagement with Carers Rights Day Report Cycles of caring: transitions in and out of unpaid care 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact CfC staff worked with Carers UK to plan and deliver the report. Press releases were produced by The University of Sheffield and Carers UK, resulting in coverage in the Mirror, BBC South Yorkshire and The Sheffield Star. The report was cited in an Early Day Motion (Liberal Democrat) and featured in UKRI's newsletter 'Headlines and Highlights' and tweeted by Gareth Thomas MP. Co-I Prof Matt Bennett was interviewed about the research on Radio Sheffield's Breakfast show.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CUK-Carers-Rights-Day-Research-Report-2022-We...
 
Description Engagement with Carers Rights Day Report Valuing Carers 2021 NI 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact CfC staff worked with Carers UK to plan and deliver the report. Press releases were produced by Carers UK, resulting in coverage in the Belfast Live, Ireland Live, UTV News, The Belfast Telegraph
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/publications/valuing-carers-northern-ireland/
 
Description Festival of Social Sciences event: Launch of Mind the Gap: Tackling digital exclusion board game 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Centre for Care was awarded funding from the University of Sheffield to develop and showcase a board game at the Festival of Social Science research arcade. Research from the Centre for Care was presented in a board game format to explore the challenges of being digitally excluded. This was presented to over 1000 visitors in a public space over 4 days where people could play the game, engage in discussions around the topic and understand the recommendations from the research. The board is life sized and on the final day of the festival it was played to an audience of 45 people including a panel of people with lived experience and professionals working in the sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/mind-the-gap-tackling-digital-exclusion/
 
Description IMPACT and CfC: Policy Roundtable 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact January 2024-Policy roundtable event with IMPACT exploring issues of choice and control. The session was chaired by David Brindle and attended by people with lived experience, academics, service providers and funders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description ITV Tonight Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Feb 2024 Prof S Yeandle and Prof M Bennett participate in a documentary, ITV Tonight. The description of the programme uses CfC statistics

'Unpaid carers in England and Wales are providing a service worth an estimated £162billion a year, the equivalent of a second NHS. But, what is the cost to those who take on the responsibility of caring for others? Lindsey Burrow, who is an unpaid carer for her former rugby league player husband Rob, has been finding out'

The Centre for Care was approached to participate in this documentary via an inquiry made to our website Centreforcare.ac.uk

The documentary generated a lot of interest on social media, including on X and Instagram with viewers highlighting what an important topic it is and requesting longer episodes of the show@

"What an excellent programme tonight ?? as the carer of my 25 yr old son (Angelman Syndrome) I felt the pain, concerns & yrs of sheer exhaustion of the carers interviewed."
"Get these @ITVTonightepisodes on an hour so much more can be fitted in more interviews and investigation each week . Tonight regular rates inside top ten most live viewed shows of the day so why no try hour long format. Next show can easily go out at 9.30 itv1"

"A very powerful program Thank you Lindsey for taking the time to speak us for every #unpaidcarer"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.itv.com/news/2024-02-01/lindsey-burrow-who-cares-for-our-carers
 
Description Launch event Local Government Information Unit Report: What role for local government in Scotland's National Care Service? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dec 2023 Ask the expert session: Co-I Prof C Needham shared her report 'What role for local government in Scotland's National Care Service?'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Media engagement with Valuing Carers 2021: England and Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact CfC staff worked with Carers UK to plan and deliver the report. Press releases were produced by The University of Sheffield and Carers UK, resulting in coverage in the Mirror, Daily Express, Channel 5 News, BBC One Yorkshire, LBC News, Evening Standard and The Sheffield Star.

Rachael Black, Impact Specialist, was interviewed for the Radio Sheffield Drive Time show and the report was featured in the UKRI 'Headlines and Highlights' newsletter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://centreforcare.ac.uk/publications/valuing-carers-2021/
 
Description Nuffield and CfC Seminar: How do we unstick social care reforms across the 4 UK countries 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact June 2023 Co delivered session with the Nuffield Trust
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/event/how-do-we-unstick-social-care-reform-across-the-four-uk-count...
 
Description Roundtable events sharing research on the long-term impacts of involvement in the child protection system on children's educational and criminal justice outcomes. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The research, which has been conducted by Dr Anna Leyland, is the first to look at the long-term impacts on criminal justice system involvement when a child becomes part of the child protection system or is taken into care. This study offers new insights into how impacts differ across England and the varying patterns for boys and girls. The findings bring into focus the challenges for the youth justice system as it seeks to protect children in child protection systems - and particularly those in care - from unnecessary criminalisation. The roundtable events on 6th and 7th of November brought together professionals working in the sector including social workers, probation and police to discuss the implications of this research and their contributions were captured to influence next steps and onward activity to influence policy and practice change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Social Media Activity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The CfC established active social media channels on Twitter and LinkedIn in 2022. CfC publications and podcasts are shared via social media, as are team members' comments on articles of interest, other CfC publications and details of CfC events and seminars. By Jan 2023 CfC had 991 Twitter followers and 74 LinkedIn followers. On Twitter, CfC's work is followed by academics, international partners, journalists, government and House of Lords departments and committees, policymakers and practitioners and people with lived experience of care. CfC's report launched on Carers Rights Day 2022 received 188 likes and 102 retweets on Twitter. CfC's Commentary by Katy Evans (person with lived experience) on recruiting/employing a new Personal Assistant received 62 likes and various comments, including: "This blog needs to be read by everyone delivering and receiving care. The work, the power imbalance, the relentlessness, the emotional and physical toll. @KatyRoseEvans is open and honest and this experience will resonate with so many people receiving support and care."

Feb 2024- We now have 1459 on X/Twitter and have shared a total of 881 posts. We now have 174 Followers on LinkedIn.
Jan 2024 Ex-Guardian journalist and Chair of Ambient Support, David Brindle, retweeted an article by Prof M Bennett with the comment
"Hard truth - 'Although the Care Act is now on the statute book, its influence on what is happening has in practice been minimal' #socialcare". This was viewed 1,621 times.
Nov 2023 videos posted on LinkedIn and Twitter/X relating to research by Matt Bennett, Jingwen Zhang and Maria Petrillo released for Carers Rights Day 2023 were viewed 2,500 times, posts received 81 likes and reposted 45 times.
May 2023 post on X/Twitter relating to research by Matt Bennett and Maria Petrillo were viewed 27,500 times, videos with these posts were viewed 15,077 times, receiving various comments like: "At last someone like CfC are highlighting some facts and issues"

Update March 2025
X highlights
We no longer have access to X analytics and will shortly be ceasing activity on here.
Three members of UK parliament reposted our report on Kinship Carers (Feb 2025)- Ian Byrne, Grahame Morris and Liz Jarvis: "New research from @kinshipcharity and @CentreForCare highlights the £4.3bn value of #KinshipCare in England. But #KinshipCarers can't pay for the essentials with their love alone - that's why we must invest in #KinshipCare."
Wendy Chamberlain quoted our Valuing Carers research in the passing of the Carer's Leave Bill, also reposting our thread on X about the parliamentary debate on 'Potential merits of a cross-Government strategy on unpaid carers (3/9/24): "Thank you to @CentreForCare for their research and work with @CarersUK and this great thread on my adjournment debate last night! #unpaidcarers"

LinkedIn highlights
LinkedIn new followers (12 months): 219
Our festival of Social Sciences event was attended by local organisations, people with lived experience and expert in Digital Exclusion. One attendee from Good Things Foundation said: "Today I was struck by the power of play to bring the serious topic of digital exclusion alive.
The University of Sheffield's Centre for Care demonstrated their Mind the Gap: Tackling Digital Exclusion giant board game as part of the Festival of Social Sciences.
As four volunteers from the audience were guided through the game, we were supported to think about the complexity of digital exclusion and how it impact people's lives. We learned what the lack of kit, connectivity, skills and confidence to access everyday services such as GP appointments, benefits and government services means to real people and how exhausting it can be to get what you need when there are so many barriers to being online.
As the game was played, we were supported in our learning by a panel of people who bring different experiences of and perspectives on digital exclusion/inclusion.
The magic of the play lay in the combination of the game, the experts and the invitation to the audience to share their views and experiences.
The game is the brilliant brainchild of Dan Williamson and colleagues. Well done to all involved for a thought-provoking event"
And Director & Co-Founder of Learn For Life Enterprise of said: "We had a very insightful discussion today at The University of Sheffield Centre for Care event, Mind the Gap: Tackling Digital Exclusion Board Game Launch, as part of the Festival of Social Sciences.
It was interesting to hear people's thoughts on the different digital barriers, and practical obstacles, that stop everyday tasks being completed and to share knowledge and ideas. Good luck to the board game as it goes on tour!"
As X becomes more challenging to use, we have recently set up Instagram and BlueSky accounts. Both currently with a smaller audience base, but growing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025
URL https://twitter.com/CentreForCare