Help people stay well before they reach crisis, Northamptonshire charity urges Chancellor
SERVE calls for Budget support for care at home, unpaid family carers and the community services that help people remain independent
Northamptonshire charity SERVE is calling on the Chancellor to use next week’s Budget to invest in the everyday support that helps people stay healthy, connected and independent.
The charity wants funding for care at home, practical help for unpaid family carers, and greater security for community services such as befriending, day centres and volunteer transport.
Tony Gibbs, Chief Executive of SERVE, said: “When people hear about health spending, they understandably think about hospitals, doctors and nurses. But what happens in someone’s home and community matters too.
“A person who has help to get out, attend appointments, eat well and stay connected has a better chance of remaining independent. A family carer who gets advice and a proper break is better supported to keep caring.
“We want a Budget that recognises these everyday needs and invests in support before people reach crisis.”
SERVE, which supports people across East and North Northamptonshire, is asking the Government to prioritise five areas -
Fund help before a crisis happens
SERVE wants reliable funding for services that tackle loneliness, support mobility and help people manage daily life. This should include befriending, community transport, day services and practical support after a hospital stay.
The charity says these services should be treated as an essential part of keeping people well, with their contribution recognised alongside NHS and council services.
Make care at home financially sustainable
Councils need enough funding to pay a fair price for the care they commission, covering the real cost of trained staff, travel between visits and safe, reliable back office support.
SERVE also wants the Budget to address employment costs facing charities and care providers, including employer National Insurance, through targeted relief or adequate funding.
Tony said: “Good care depends on good people. Care workers deserve fair pay, training and time to do their jobs properly. Funding must reflect what delivering that care actually costs.”
Give unpaid family carers practical and financial support
People looking after a relative or friend need accessible advice, opportunities for a break and help to protect their own health.
SERVE is calling for better financial support for unpaid carers and improvements that make it easier to combine caring with paid work.
“Families do an enormous amount, often quietly and at considerable personal cost,” Tony said. “They should be able to ask for help before exhaustion or financial hardship takes hold.”
Give local charities greater certainty
SERVE wants longer funding agreements and simpler application processes, allowing charities to plan services, retain experienced staff and spend more time supporting people.
Short grants can help launch projects, but essential services need dependable funding beyond their first year.
Back local communities to show what works
Through its ‘Communities Working Better Together’ proposals, SERVE is calling for closer working between councils, the NHS, charities, care providers and unpaid carers.
The charity wants funding that could support a Northamptonshire pilot, bringing services together around people’s needs and measuring improvements in activity, mobility, falls risk, social connection and independence. Evaluation would also examine whether better support reduces avoidable demand on health and care services.
Tony added: “Public money is under pressure, so every investment needs a clear purpose and evidence of what it achieves.
“Our message to the Chancellor is straightforward: help communities keep people well, support families who care for a loved one, and give local services the stability to do their jobs.
“For people in Northamptonshire, that could mean being able to get to an appointment, having someone to talk to, or getting the help that makes living at home possible. Those are the everyday outcomes this Budget should support.”