August 2026 newsletter: Have your say in the first phase of the Big Conversation on Care

Last month we launched The Big Conversation on Care, giving people across England the opportunity to have their say on the future of adult social care. 

We have been amazed by the response so far with over 350,000 votes already cast through our online platform, alongside thousands of proposals about what people want and expect from care and support in the future.  

We are so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to take part and for all those who have shared with their friends, family and networks. 

This first online phase closes on 23 September 2026 and we would love for even more people to share their views. This edition of the newsletter has more information on the Big Conversation and how people can get involved. 

You can also find out more about the Big Conversation on Care on our dedicated website: The Big Conversation on Care | The Casey Commission

Since the Big Conversation launched on 29 July, people across England have been responding to our question: 

When we are old or disabled, or have a serious illness, who should support us and how? 

So far, more than 350,000 votes have been cast and more than 6,000 proposals submitted through the online platform delivered by Make.org. 

People can submit their own idea, beginning with “we should…”, and vote on ideas submitted by other people by saying whether they agree, disagree or feel neutral about them. This is helping us build a picture of the different ideas people have about the future of care, where there may be common ground and where views differ. 

The online platform is just one part of the wider Big Conversation on Care. It sits alongside our inclusive engagement work, which is helping us hear from people who draw on care and support, unpaid carers, the adult social care workforce and communities whose voices are not always heard. 

It will also feed into the Public Panel on Care – a representative group of people from across England who will come together over several months to consider the issues in more depth, hear evidence, discuss different perspectives and help us explore where there may be common ground on the future of care. 

Together, this work will help the Commission understand what people across England want from a future adult social care system. 

If you haven’t taken part yet, there is still time. 

New proposals can be submitted until 9 September. After this point, the platform will move into a vote-only phase, giving people more time to respond to the ideas that have already been submitted. 

The first online phase of the Big Conversation will close on Wednesday 23 September. 

This will allow the Commission to take what we have heard into the first round of deliberation with the Public Panel on Care. The online platform will then reopen in the new year, giving people another opportunity to take part as the Big Conversation continues. 

Take part online here: Take part online | The Casey Commission

We are hugely grateful to the organisations across the country that have already helped promote the Big Conversation through their networks. 

Over the next few weeks, we particularly want to reach people who may not yet have heard about it. Organisations can play an important role in helping us do that and will know best how to reach the people they support and work with. 

We can provide communications materials for organisations that would like to promote the Big Conversation, including suggested materials that can be shared through newsletters, websites, social media and other channels. 

If your organisation would like a communications pack, please email enquiries@caseycommission.co.uk and the team will send this to you. 

The Big Conversation is about taking the debate about the future of social care beyond Westminster and hear from people who might never have thought about social care before. 

Over the coming weeks, our Chair, Baroness Casey, will also be out and about promoting the Big Conversation and encouraging more people to get involved. You may also see her on TV and radio too, encouraging people from all walks of life to have their say. 

We will continue to update our website to share where we have been and what we have been up to, so stayed tuned. 

The Big Conversation will continue beyond September. This is the first of two rounds of big public engagement. 

Following the first round of deliberation with the Public Panel on Care, the online platform will reopen in the new year, alongside further opportunities to contribute as the Commission’s work develops. 

You can keep up to date with the Commission’s work, the Big Conversation and future opportunities to take part through our website. 

You can also sign up for updates from the Commission.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part, shared the Big Conversation or helped us reach people so far.