Clapton Care Commons

Team Owner, Clapton

“I really do believe that it takes a village to raise a child. And there are some areas of London where this is still possible. Keeping care workers local makes sense.

I never understood why a council would try to employ a care worker from another council area. Think about it, if its bad traffic they are gong to be a week late! So not only did I believe in the idea of keeping thing local and building community. I also believed, on a practical level, that this would work.

Being a part of the village means that you are no longer an outsider. Instead of ‘Here I am to run that service!’ it becomes ‘Here we are together!' The more of us together, the merrier we will be!"

Elvis Menez

Family Member of Equal Care Team & Co-founder of The Clapton Care Circle

"I have experienced the challenges of Social Care firsthand. I live in Manchester and support my mum, Hazel, who resides in the Stamford Hill/Clapton Common area and was receiving very poor care. I found myself traveling back and forth every week to sort things out and keep her company.

When I heard about Equal Care Cooperative's vision of involving the local community more in Social Care, it was like music to my ears—it felt exactly right for my mum. Throughout her life in both Jamaica and London, she has been dedicated to supporting her local community through the church and organizations like the African Caribbean Leadership Company.

Equal Care wanted to help her receive something back from the community she helped build."

Agnieszka Rolkiewicz

Commons Organiser & Co-founder of The Clapton Circle

“Being outdoors with others can be someone’s experience of receiving ‘home care.’ There have been wonderful moments where we have been able to bring people together, dancing, eating, and chatting. People are animated, alive, and full of joy.

But it took us two years to create a regular group. It takes time to get to know each other, to trust that change is possible. The only way you can build this trust and hope is by physically bringing people together. Never underestimate the value of a small gathering, team owners with just one or two care workers, family members and local residents, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just spending some time together."

Luke Tanner

Project Lead & Co-founder of The Clapton Circle

"Having experienced both the best and worst of social care, I’ve come to understand that when care is rooted in the people, places, and things that matter most to the people receiving care, it fosters a greater sense of well-being and belonging. Cooperative care services like Equal Care make this possible by removing some of the institutional features that often prioritize the running of the service over the people in it.

From my own experience, I’ve seen how services like our local primary school foster community and well-being. Care providers could do the same if they were designed differently. At Equal Care, we empower those receiving care to lead their own teams, making decisions alongside their carers and families. By sharing responsibilities clearly and involving everyone, we build stronger, more meaningful connections. This cooperative approach, where decisions are made together, helps create the sense of belonging that care should provide."