Sussex Care Showcase 2025: A Day of Challenges, Connections, and Change
- Elizabeth Beh
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
A couple weeks ago, the Sussex Care Showcase 2025 took place at Brighton Race Course on September 10th. I was invited to give a talk and Tresacare received a spot for our very own stand. The team spent weeks designing and preparing our new roll-up banner and flyers – and when we got there we were delighted to see that the conference theme was in our Tresacare blue 💙
Getting to Brighton
Getting there from London was a journey in every sense. My morning started with a hospital appointment due to my chronic illness, which had recently gotten worse after a long trip. Thanks to the tube strike, I had to walk a good stretch across the city just to make it. I was so grateful when I finally found a bus seat.
Later, alone, I lugged my luggage and our Tresacare marketing materials through London to St Pancras – thankful, at least, that it wasn’t raining. By the time I got to Brighton, safe and sound, I was exhausted but relieved. My accommodation was cosy, and even though medication kept me tossing and turning that night, I managed about six hours of sleep.
The next morning, I felt calm and ready. Ale and I set up our table, took some photos, and braced ourselves for the day ahead. SESCA was right across from us, which was lovely – seeing Erica, Lisa, Robin, and Jonathan always feels like reconnecting with allies.
Taking the Stage
I had the privilege of speaking right after Neil Eastwood – a tough act to follow, and someone I’ve admired for years. For the first time, I spoke for 30 minutes without a script. I shared my own story, the vision of Tresacare, and the journey of supporting international care workers who became displaced.
At one point, I asked the audience to close their eyes and imagine arriving in a new country as a care worker: full of hope, ready to serve, and then suddenly abandoned without support. I could feel the room shift as I told the stories of the workers we stand alongside. Erica Lockhart (SESCA) joined me on stage to give the provider’s perspective. She spoke about the benefits of pastoral support for her team, and about the successes we’ve achieved together – from retention rates to real lives changed.
She even brought flyers to hand out, and they were gone in minutes. People lined up at our stand afterwards. One attendee came up to me and said, “I had no idea this was even happening. Your talk opened my eyes.” That meant everything.
Building Relationships, Not Sales
Throughout the day, I reminded myself: this isn’t about selling. It’s about connection, empathy, and truth. I may be the world’s worst salesperson, but Tresacare is thriving because of the relationships we build. People see the need and the value in what we do – and they want to be part of it.
Even over at the Apetito stand, we ended up making friends. One of their team told us about their donations to care charities and promised to connect us with their charity team. Again and again, I'm reminded that opportunities come when the focus is impact, not transactions.
A Movement That’s Growing
By the end of the day, Ale and I were completely exhausted, but my heart was so full. The conversations we had, the allies we met, the curiosity and compassion people showed – it all confirmed what I already knew.
This is bigger than us. It’s a movement now. NHS needs social care. Social care needs care workers. And care workers need us to fight for them.
I left Brighton that night tired but hopeful. The message is landing!
Comments