Care Forum Wales

12/06/2026

Free Online Course: Challenging Ageism in Wales
The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has launched a free online course to help people recognise and challenge ageism. Developed with the Open University in Wales, the course explores the impact of age discrimination and provides practical guidance on tackling it.
The course is free and open to everyone.
🔗 Find out more and access the resources pack here:
Ageism-Learning-Course-Stakeholder-Resources-Pack.pdf
Ageism and age discrimination | OpenLearn - Open University

10/06/2026

We're pleased to see the publication of the final report from the Volunteering Journeys research project, to which Care Forum Wales was pleased to contribute.

It was a valuable opportunity to share the experiences and perspectives of social care providers in Wales, helping to inform the research and shape its findings. We welcome the publication of the report and look forward to seeing how its insights can support and strengthen volunteering across health and social care.

Thank you to everyone involved for their collaborative approach throughout the project.

To mark , we’ve launched a new research report exploring how volunteering can act as a pathway into paid work in social care. The report highlights: ✨ the different routes people take between volunteering and employment ✨ how volunteering helps build skills, confidence and exp...

10/06/2026

Today is Age Without Limits Day – a chance to challenge ageism and celebrate the contribution that older people make to our families, communities and society.

At Care Forum Wales, we see every day the wisdom, resilience, experience and individuality that older people bring to the communities they live in. Growing older should never mean being defined by stereotypes or assumptions.

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and as an individual, regardless of their age. By challenging ageism and promoting positive attitudes towards ageing, we can help create a Wales where people of all ages are valued and included.

Today, we celebrate older people and reaffirm our commitment to supporting high-quality care that enables people to live fulfilling lives, maintain their independence and continue contributing to their communities.

19/05/2026

We are delighted to shine a spotlight on the fantastic work of our members at Waverley Care Centre, who have organised a comprehensive programme of activities for residents, staff and family members as part of Dementia Action Week.

A wonderful example of creativity, compassion and community in action.

Da iawn! 👏

18/05/2026

💙 Celebrating Community, Connection & Care 💙

This Dementia Action Week, we want to shine a light on something truly special happening quietly in the heart of our communities — the “Forget Me Not” Hubs run by Bluebird Care💐

For the past five years, these weekly groups have offered a safe, welcoming space for people living with memory loss, health challenges, and for the loved ones who support them. They are free, community based hubs where everyone is welcome to drop in for company, a cuppa and a chat ☕💬

Led with compassion by senior carers Nicola and Ceylon, the Forget Me Not Hubs are about celebration, not labels. Many families prefer not to name dementia, so instead, these hubs focus on connection, creativity and joy.

🎨 From painting, crafts and pom pom making
🎶 To singing, shared laughter and special visits from local choirs at Christmas
🍰 Always with tea, biscuits and cake

🏡 Forget Me Not Hub locations:
• Cowbridge – 51 Eastgate, Cowbridge
🕑 Mondays & Thursdays, 2–4pm
• Radyr – Radyr Hyb, Park Road
🕙 Mondays 10.30am–1.30pm
🕝 Fridays 2.30–5pm
These hubs are a wonderful example of community kindness in action, proving that small, consistent acts of care can make a meaningful difference.

Thank you to everyone involved for creating spaces where people feel seen, valued and supported.

08/05/2026

🌍⚽ Care Home Open Week 2026 is coming!

This year’s theme is the World Cup and celebrations will take place from 15–21 June 2026.

Care Home Open Week 2026 is a fantastic opportunity for care providers to open their doors, celebrate their communities, and showcase what great care looks like.

Whether you’ve taken part before or are joining for the first time, the week brings together residents, families, staff, local schools and communities to experience the warmth, connection and energy that make care homes so special. ❤️

By registering, you’ll gain access to:
⚽ Activity packs with ready-to-use event ideas
🎨 Free CHOW branding and promotional resources
📣 The chance to have your stories featured as part of national media coverage

Register now via the CHOW website and start planning your celebrations!

https://www.championingsocialcare.org.uk/care-home-open-week/register/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_kFgr-7PnM7XTHjoeKZLX-b-zSc0TpbTQxMggdpEkMLMW_Q2tEIVOfeEytt7u2lWUaiQbWPKUxc5Y9tObM7prVYWiVqlwVzDSQyihySVTHzqv35LY&_hsmi=417710381&utm_content=417710381&utm_source=hs_email

For more information, please contact Championing Social Care at [email protected]

The next Care Home Open Day will take place in June 2021 and we will publish details of our plans very soon.

07/05/2026

We are asking for your support to sign and promote a parliamentary petition by our Homecare Association colleagues calling for careworkers to have access to the same five year settlement route as other health and care professionals, including NHS staff.

Careworkers play a vital role in helping people live safely and independently at home. They take on complex, skilled work every day. Despite this, current proposals could mean careworkers face a 15 year route to settlement, while other parts of the health and care workforce keep a five-year pathway. The government has justified this on the basis care is ‘low-skill’ work. We know this does not reflect the reality of what your teams do.

Many overseas careworkers came to the UK expecting a five year pathway. Changing this risks damaging trust, increasing uncertainty, and pushing people away from a sector that already struggles to recruit and retain staff.

This petition gives us an opportunity to make that case clearly and collectively.

Please take a moment to sign the petition and share it with your teams, partners and networks.

If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government must respond. At 100,000 signatures, Parliament may debate it. Every signature strengthens our ability to show that the sector, and the public, expect fair treatment for careworkers.

Change settlement proposals so all care workers can earn settlement after 5 years like other health and care workers on Skilled Worker Visas. We believe care is skilled, essential work that helps people live safely, out of hospital, and their family to stay in work.

28/04/2026

Working in social care in Wales?

Are you aged 18–25?

If so, Social Care Wales wants to hear from you.

Social Care Wales is inviting young people with experience of working in frontline social care roles (e.g. care workers or support workers in children’s or adult services) to take part in a 30-minute online interview with researchers from Cardiff University.

In return, you’ll receive a £20 Love2shop gift voucher.

Sharing your experience will help improve understanding of what it is like for young people working in social care in Wales.

Interested or have a question? Get in touch!

Email Richard Gater [email protected] or phone 02920 870037

18/04/2026

Medr is running a series of events for apprenticeship providers, employers, training professionals, and sector partners to feed into the design of the new Welsh Apprenticeship Programme.

Join them to find out more about the new apprenticeship design, join discussions, test key elements, and share feedback:

Llandudno – 13 May

Llandrindod Wells – 14 May

Cardiff – 20 May

More:

Mae Medr yn gyfrifol am gyllido a rheoleiddio’r sector addysg drydyddol ac ymchwil yng Nghymru. Medr is responsible for funding and regulating the tertiary education and research sector in Wales.

17/04/2026

We’re pleased to share a valuable new resource from Health Education and Improvement Wales, created to support those working in mental health services across Wales.

Ffordd is a national website offering quick and easy access to:
• Wellbeing tools and resources
• Guidance for challenging situations (such as inquests, patient su***de, and safeguarding incidents)
• Resilience-building materials
• Networks and communities of practice
• Signposting to local support across Wales

You can explore Ffordd here:
🔗 https://heiw.nhs.wales/workforce/ffordd-support-for-the-mental-health-workforce/

This marks the first step toward a national support service for the mental health workforce in Wales. We hope you find it helpful, accessible, and supportive in your role.

Working in mental health can be tough, but Ffordd supports staff to feel safe, valued and not alone.