We did it! Thanks to the unwavering support of all 21,525 of you who signed the petition, shared our story, and rallied behind Stephen, we have achieved a monumental victory! 💪💙

Today, we are relieved to announce that Wiltshire Council has reached an agreement to provide the necessary funding to ensure Stephen can remain in the care home that has been his safe haven for nearly 10 years—for this financial year and the next. 🙌 While this means Stephen will stay at Old Orchard, where he feels secure, loved, and valued—a place where he can continue to thrive—this agreement leaves us with a great deal of uncertainty and fear around his long-term future and security. We are still without assurances that his care will be secured beyond this short time frame, and we remain deeply concerned about the ongoing instability for Stephen’s future.

However, while we celebrate this victory, we cannot overlook the way this situation has been mishandled. Wiltshire Council has treated Stephen as nothing more than a financial statistic, dehumanizing him in the process and stripping him of his autonomy. It’s clear that this decision was not made out of genuine concern for his well-being, but rather due to the mounting pressure from this petition, the support from the public, the media attention, and, undoubtedly, the upcoming election. Wiltshire Council has consistently failed to engage with us transparently and took far too long to act in Stephen’s best interest.

As we learned through communication with Choice Care, the terms of the new funding agreement have been made in “strictest confidence”—a move that continues their pattern of avoiding transparency. This lack of openness suggests that Stephen’s situation was only addressed after a public outcry, and likely because the Council was more concerned with its public image than with the well-being of vulnerable individuals.

We’re deeply troubled by how many others, like Stephen, are facing the same fight for dignity and care, and the fact that many of these families have reached out to us in solidarity shows just how broken the care system has become. It’s not just about one person—it’s about a larger, systemic issue that continues to affect countless individuals who deserve better.

While we are grateful for the outcome, we must continue to highlight the ongoing injustice and neglect within the care industry, and the failure of local authorities to protect those most vulnerable in society. Wiltshire Council's reluctance to engage openly and meaningfully with us should be a wake-up call that we cannot continue to let our loved ones fall through the cracks.

This victory belongs to Stephen, but it also belongs to all the families who are fighting the same battle. Your voices, your signatures, and your support made this possible—and for that, we are forever grateful. Together, we’ve proven that change is possible when we stand united. But the fight isn’t over. We will keep advocating for better treatment of people with complex needs and a fairer, more transparent care system.

We are calling on all of you who want to continue the fight for better care and funding to visit Families For Fair Care, where we can keep pushing for systemic change across the care industry. 

Additionally, if you or someone you know is facing a similar situation to Stephen’s—whether it's related to care home evictions or funding disputes—we invite you to contact us via email at familiesforfaircare@gmail.com - Please note, we are not offering legal advice, but we are happy to share the steps we took and the strategies that helped us achieve this outcome. Our hope is to provide support and guidance to others fighting this same battle.

Thank you again to all 21,525 of you who stood with us. This victory is ours, but we must keep pushing for the change that so many others need. 

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