A launch event in London will include a visit from social care minister Helen Whately. Events will take place across the country during the week, with Friday 28 June branded MP Engagement Day.

Last year’s Care Home Open Week saw around a third of care homes register to take part, with more than 150 MPs visiting a home. Event organisers Championing Social Care anticipate another successful campaign of public engagement.

As Care Home Open Week takes place during the European Football Championships, with the Olympics and Wimbledon following soon after, organisers have added a new Summer of Sport activity pack to the downloadable support pack. The pack has been developed together with the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA).

After a successful launch in 2023, the Great British Care Cycle Relay will again run alongside Care Home Open Week. The Relay aims to highlight the work of the social care sector by visiting care homes along its route, and a record number of riders have signed up to take part.

The Cycle Relay will start in Greater Manchester and the route will take it into Wales, then through the Midlands and into London, covering over 300 miles.

Derek Breingan, head of health and social care at Virgin Money and a Championing Social Care Ambassador, said Care Home Open Week was vital to tackle misconceptions about social care. “To open up the doors and show what social care is all about in towns and villages up and down the country is really important,” he commented.

Mitesh Dhanak, board member of Championing Social Care and chair of the Care Home Open Week committee, said: “It’s fantastic to see all the care homes coming together. The events that they will organise are just phenomenal. It’s great to see the local community participating in so many activities.”

Care homes and other care services wishing to take part in Open Week can register on the Championing Social Care website, and cyclists can find out more about the Relay.

Care Home Open Week is staged with the support of Virgin Money, Civitas and Christie & Co. Browne Jacobson support the Cycle Relay with a large team of volunteers. Open Week is also supported by a range of delivery partners who produce material to download and help to stage events. These include NAPA, Music for Dementia, The Eden Project and the National Care Forum.