Exciting news – the dawning of a new era for our campaign
We are delighted to announce that Rights For Residents has officially joined forces with the excellent Residents and Relatives Association (R&RA). The name will be familiar to many of our supporters, since we share many of the same aims and have been campaigning in step for some time.
Their strong community of members, legal expertise and the vital support provided through their helpline is an ideal fit with the passion of the Rights For Residents campaign group and our followers. By joining forces, we are making the most of our combined talents to create a new, more powerful organisation with a shared team. We are thrilled that Jenny will be taking on the new role of Engagement Lead with Diane expanding her role as Campaign Manager to tackle broader issues.
There is no doubt that we are so much stronger together, with a much more powerful voice for people needing care and their families. We know how much our voice is needed. We hear daily from our members that people are being failed by the care system. As a united voice for people needing care and their families, we will stand up for care rights across the UK and fight for a better care system.
The Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) was set up 30 years ago by Dorothy White, as a result of her own experiences when her mother moved into care. Although she was a key player in the NHS, Dorothy found that supporting her own mother in a nursing home was surprisingly stressful. She was dismayed to find herself obstructed at every attempt to become involved in key decisions about her mother’s welfare. She wanted to support those who didn’t know their way around the care system, as she understood the challenges.
So – the independent charity was born ‘to help relatives and friends to work with homes to ensure the highest possible quality of life for all older residents’. Since then the charity has been supporting older people and their families with information and advice about their rights, and fighting for change to ensure people receive high quality care.
Lockdown highlighted that the rights of people needing care are under continued threat. From poor quality care due to staff shortages, to isolation and visiting restrictions, all too often, people living in care don’t have their needs met or their rights respected.
We plan to strengthen and grow the support we offer through our helpline. We are also developing a new website to reach more people through social media and ensure they get the help they need to stand up for the rights of people who need support.
We still have work to do to do behind the scenes and there will be more exciting news to share in the coming months, as we get ready to launch a new look and a new name, with a fresh sense of urgency and purpose.
Thanks for your ongoing support and for your own individual campaigning efforts.
Jenny & Diane
Co founders of the Rights For Residents Campaign
