Colette's Story

Colette, 42, from Reading West and Mid Berkshire, wanted to work in social care but found herself caught in a vicious cycle created by Westminster's funding choices. Care providers across the South East cannot offer competitive wages because HM Treasury caps local authority grants, forcing councils to set care fees below the actual cost of delivery. This leaves trained carers unemployed while care homes struggle with vacancies. The workers exist, the need is urgent, but the government treats care spending as a fiscal burden rather than the route connecting skilled people to meaningful work. Colette's story exposes how central government choices block both employment and essential services. Views expressed are the presenter's own.