The Shaftesbury Group's appearance at the House of Lords is a reminder that Christian care organisations have a vital voice in shaping the future of disability services in Britain. Sally Chivers' presentation of the organisation's vision — rooted in personalised care, human connection, and a distinctly Christian ethos — offers a counter-narrative to the increasingly transactional model of social care that dominates much of the sector.

The reopening of Shaftesbury Talbot Manor and the achievements of students from Shaftesbury Nash College are not merely institutional milestones. They represent real people whose lives have been shaped by an organisation that believes every human being carries inherent dignity and deserves to flourish. That conviction, grounded in the Christian understanding of the imago Dei, is what makes faith-based care organisations distinctive.

As the government continues to wrestle with the future of social care funding, the Shaftesbury Group's voice in these conversations matters enormously. We are grateful for organisations that refuse to separate Christian faith from practical service, and that carry that witness all the way to the corridors of power.