Care is a thread that weaves itself into the fabric of our society. It’s something Ed Davey knows well. His new memoir, Why I Care and Why Care Matters, explores how being a carer has shaped his life and values.

Aged only four, Ed lost his father to cancer. When his mother also became ill, Ed and his brothers nursed her at home until she died when Ed was just 15. Now, he and his wife care for their son John, who has severe physical and learning disabilities, as well as raising their younger daughter.

In writing his memoir, Ed gathered powerful testimonies from carers across the country, weaving them together with his own stories and thoughtful analysis. The result is an authentic picture of life for millions of people in Britain today, and a call to action for what more can be done to support those who are the backbone of our society.

Join us at The Conduit as we shed light on the often-invisible world of carers, hearing from someone experiencing that world as a parent, partner, and politician on the front line of fighting for change. Part conversation, part clarion call, this event examines what more society and our institutions can do to support, recognise and lift up the legions of carers in Britain today.

Event Schedule

1:15pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

1:30pm: Event begins

2:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Sir Ed Davey MP has been the leader of the Liberal Democrats since 2020, having acted in the position from 2019 to 2020. He has been MP for Kingston and Surbiton since 2017, having previously held the role from 1997 until 2015. He was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and is married with two children.

Image credit: The Times

Paul van Zyl is the co-founder and CEO of The Conduit. Paul is a winner of the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission and co-founded the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), an international human rights organisation based in New York City.