By Rodger Cartwright

Britain today feels profoundly different from the Britain of ten years ago. Once there was a sense of stability, a nation moving steadily forward. If you had predicted a pandemic, national lockdowns, parties in the centre of government breaking lockdown rules, or a 50-day Prime Minister, people might have given you a puzzled look, perhaps even dismissed you with a touch of derision.
Yet here we are, and the country feels totally neglected. Boarded-up shops line once-bustling high streets, overgrown planters full of weeds sit untouched in front of shopping parades, and potholes scar our roads. If Britain were a person, what would these symptoms be telling us? And what about the nation’s vital organs; health, education, social care, housing, defence, transport? They are in critical condition. Our healthcare system is buckling under pressure, struggles to see a GP, delayed cancer treatments and worsening national health, while our housing crisis leaves thousands without secure homes. National productivity remains alarmingly low, hindering economic growth and innovation.
The government faces a monumental task to cure the nation of this deep-rooted deterioration. Our institutions need repair, and our society needs healing. But they cannot do it alone.
I have long complained about charities having to step in and plug the gaps created by state failures. Many in our sector feel this frustration; should it really be our responsibility to compensate for these shortfalls?Â
But that frustration needs to be set aside because, whether we like it or not, charities have become an indispensable part of the nation's recovery plan.

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, take note: charities will be essential in unlocking this country's future. They must be recognised as vital players in the recovery regime.Â
Look at how The Ripple Pond operates: We listen, identify needs, and build powerful partnerships. Our work supporting carers through programmes like Operation COURAGE enhances health and social outcomes not just for individuals but for entire families.
Our support for carers relieves pressure on the NHS, helps carers re-enter the workforce, and boosts the economy. It enables children in these families to build confidence and have a chance to thrive. We have an extraordinary model for tackling isolation, fostering inclusivity, and boosting overall wellbeing.

The government must ensure that large and small charities are given a seat at the top table. We need to be part of the planning teams and even part of the "red teams"—those tasked with challenging and testing policy decisions before they’re made. Charities should be hard-wired into national plans, ambitions, and funding frameworks.
At The Ripple Pond, we act as a vital part of the nation’s recovery system, a force multiplier in the healing process. We are effective, informed, agile, and deliver high-impact results at a low cost. Just as a patient recovering from illness needs the right care and support, the government must recognise that charities are essential in nursing the country back to health.Â
Charities are not just a supplement; they are part of the treatment plan, providing the long-term care needed to prevent further decline. If the government is serious about rehabilitating the nation, it must ensure that charities are central to the cure; hardwired into its plans, ambitions, and funding to ensure a full and lasting recovery.
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