Measuring the Mountain Awarded Further Funding to Explore Experiences of Social Care in Wales

Measuring the Mountain (MtM) has been awarded further Welsh Government funding of over £140,000 to fund the second phase of its ground-breaking work understanding people’s experiences of social care in Wales.  Building on the success of its work in 2018/19, the project will continue to engage with communities across the country, using its pioneering approaches to put Welsh people at the heart of the debate on developing the social care sector.  Based at the University of South Wales, Dr Rachel Iredale, Associate Professor of Public Engagement is the Principal Investigator, leading on MtM’s second phase.

This month the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Julie Morgan agreed further funding, which will fund 18 months of activity from MtM, enabling the project to gather more stories relating to social care, and to host a Citizens’ Jury.  The Jury, a method for engaging people in complex policy discussions will be the second hosted by the project and will enable members of the public to examine, in depth, a core issue related to what really matters in social care. 

Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan said:

“Measuring the Mountain is providing vital information to learn more about people’s experiences of social care.  Carers, and those that receive care and support, contribute so much to communities, families and livelihoods; their voices are crucial. Social care needs to function well where it matters most, in the lives of people across Wales.”

The first year of the project highlighted the complexity of social care and the impact is has on people’s lives.  Notable were the experiences of carers and in 2019, MtM is keen to hear further from carers from all over Wales.  The project’s work in 2019, whilst continuing to look at social care as a whole, will also focus more closely on people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as the experiences of younger people.

Annie Galt, a carer and one of the Jurors in MtM’s first Citizens’ Jury said:

“I am really happy to be involved with MtM, projects like this are so important because they help people to have their voice heard and, hopefully, to contribute to improving the experiences of people in the future.  Being a carer is tough and I’m happy that Welsh Government want to know more about experiences like mine.”

MtM are currently looking for new organisations to join their Steering Group, visit the website to find out more - www.mtm.wales / www.mym.cymru.