Tuesday 28th April 2026
Speaking up for social care on the BBC
As part of a special day of coverage on social care by the BBC, our care homes Framland in Wantage and Milward House in Tunbridge Wells have been speaking to local media, highlighting the role care homes play in ensuring older people can live well and drawing attention to some of the challenges faced
“The staff are very caring and very supportive.” These words come from Rosemary, 100, who was talking to reporter Victoria Walton from BBC South Today at our care home Framland in Wantage last week.
On and around Tuesday 28th April the BBC has been running a special series of reports on social care, telling the stories of those who live and work in care and shining a spotlight on the challenges faced with regards to funding and recruitment.
The BBC’s visit to Framland was a wonderful opportunity for us to share daily life in our warm and welcoming home, where those living with us are called ‘family members’ and treated as such.
Reporter Victoria began her visit by chatting to Rosemary in Framland's sunny garden before accompanying her on one of her regular walks along the path around the garden’s edge.
As noted in the report, Rosemary credits the wide variety of people who work here with helping her stay independent despite the difficulties she now has with her eyesight.
Some of these fantastic team members then had the opportunity to share their stories, with their passion for care, the rewards they find in their work and the family feel at Framland coming across resoundingly.
Our carer Maxine spoke of how she has been a carer at Framland for 34 years, following in the footsteps of her mum. Nicole, our Wellbeing and Dementia Lead, shared how she first came to us as a kitchen assistant and domestic at the age of 16, and how our family members have been there for her through many of life's milestones. To everyone's delight, her young daughter was even able to join us for some of the filming.
Antonia, 18, who has joined us as part of her college course, was also interviewed, sharing something of the valuable work experience she is gaining right at the start of her career.
The footage of the report is available to watch on BBC iPlayer but only until around 7.30pm this evening (Tuesday 28th April), so do watch here as soon as you can. The coverage begins around 10 minutes in.
If you don't manage to catch the TV footage, you can listen to the report on Radio Oxford on BBC Sounds for the next 30 days. The coverage featured on the Phil Mercer Breakfast Show, beginning at around 6.39am (39 minutes from the start of the show).
Last week, Radio Oxford's breakfast presenter Phil also came to visit the home. He spent time speaking to staff, including Maraya, our Registered Home Manager, Dave, our Activities and Community Engagement (ACE) Facilitator and Marion, our Hummingbird. Thank you to everyone for showing just how much we cherish the stories and lives of those living with us.
This segment also features on the breakfast show from Tuesday 28th April at around 7.25am (so 1 hour 25 mins from the start).
Meanwhile, over at Milward House in Tunbridge Wells we had a visit from BBC Kent. Business Manager Sid highlighted the costs involved in running a care home, while Susan, our Activities and Community Engagement (ACE) Facilitator, and Kriszti, our Wellbeing and Dementia Lead, invited the reporter to join in with some of the singing and games in the lounge. The piece is available to read on the BBC Kent website here. Insight from Sid on balancing the books also features on the BBC Radio Kent breakfast show - catch the coverage from Tuesday 28th April on BBC Sounds from 7.02am (1 hour 2 mins in to the show).
Well done everyone for being such brilliant ambassadors for our work, and a positive voice in the world of social care more widely!