The Leeds Providers Forum: Local Care, Stronger Together
In September 2024, the Leeds Providers Forum, a pioneering initiative, was launched to unite small independent home care providers across the Leeds area. Founded by Aqila Choudhry MBE, Managing Director of Love In Care, and Helen Cook, Managing Director of Personal Care Specialists, the Forum now has 50 members and is working towards bringing together all 250 small providers across Leeds.
The Forum’s mission is to support long-term sustainability and improve the quality of home care for people in Leeds. By encouraging collaboration and embracing innovative ideas, it is helping to build a stronger, more integrated homecare system; one that nurtures closer relationships between care professionals, service users, and families, and ultimately delivers more personalised and effective support.
Below are five ways the Forum has been working to achieve its mission, and how you can join:
1. Empowering Small Providers
The Leeds Providers Forum has secured a place at top-level conversations with the Council, giving small providers a stronger voice in key decisions around commissioning and funding. This has opened the door to closer collaboration with larger providers and enabled the Forum to negotiate Council uplifts. It is currently working on a PPE deal to ensure quality, affordability, and reliable access for all members.
2. Fostering Collaboration and Training
The Forum supports training for its members, including sessions for senior managers and guidance for CQC inspection readiness. Aqila Choudhry MBE was recently appointed President of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Through her leadership, she is raising the profile of the homecare sector, building new partnerships, and tackling skills gaps by working closely with regional businesses.
3. Ensuring Client Choice and Dignity
One of the Forum’s primary goals is to safeguard client choice by giving a voice to small local neighbourhood providers, many of which have long-standing roots within their communities. By doing so, the Forum aims to ensure clients retain their freedom to choose and maintain dignity when making decisions about their care.
The Forum’s collaborative approach has fostered a safe and supportive environment where providers can share their experiences, collectively tackle challenges, and focus on enhancing services for the people they support.
4. A Unified Voice
In a significant step forward, the Council welcomes the Leeds Providers Forum as the unified voice for small providers across the Leeds area. They value our collaborative efforts and appreciate our input. The Council is committed to offering a diverse range of services to a diverse client base and is working with smaller providers to ensure choice and dignity.
With plans to reduce the number of home care providers next year, the Forum’s recognition is vital to ensuring vulnerable residents continue to receive safe, high-quality, and personalised care from trusted local providers.
5. Driving Positive Change in UK Homecare
The Leeds Providers Forum is a dynamic force for improvement in UK homecare, bringing together providers, professionals, and stakeholders to share best practice, strengthen communication, and champion inclusive care. Through collaboration rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility, the Forum is shaping a more responsive and compassionate care environment.
At the heart of this progress is a commitment to trust, empathy, and open dialogue. These deeper connections empower individuals and organisations, forming the foundation for meaningful partnerships that deliver real impact and drive lasting change.
Join the Forum
If you’re a registered small independent homecare provider in Leeds and want to be part of a stronger, more connected future, we’d love to hear from you. The Leeds Providers Forum is free to join and open to small providers rated Requires Improvement, Good or Outstanding, who share our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and high-quality care.
Together, we’re building a future where every provider’s voice matters and every person receives the dignity, choice, and support they deserve.
The Leeds Providers Forum: Find Out More
To find out more about the Leeds Provider Forum or to get involved, please contact:
Helen Cook – Email: helencook@personalcare4u.co.uk or Tel: 0113 345 0630
Aqila Choudhry – Email: aqila.choudhry1@nhs.net or Tel: 07539 022642
