IT was a real pleasure to spend time recently at Summerhayes Care Home in the tranquil village of Sandford.

I was there to help officially open their newly completed extension, and it was immediately clear that Andy and Charlie Mason have succeeded in creating a truly warm, friendly, and very happy home for their residents.

Summerhayes is a small, family-run residential home, specialising in high-quality personal care and accommodation for up to 19 older people.

Located just two miles from Crediton, the detached Georgian property sits in beautifully maintained gardens, providing a peaceful environment for long-term, respite, and day care options.

This focus on quality and a personal touch is something I deeply value across Central Devon.

The new extension has been thoughtfully named the “Friendship Room,” recognising Ros Friendship’s remarkable 36 years of enduring care and commitment to the home and those who live there.

That kind of long-standing dedication is the epitome of community spirit and precisely what makes our local area such a supportive place to live.

Care homes like Summerhayes are part of a network of around 16,500 homes across the UK, providing for almost half a million residents and employing more than 780,000 people.

With the UK’s population ageing rapidly, demand for residential care continues to grow.

Nationally, occupancy rates now stand near 86 per cent, according to government data for mid-2025, reflecting the strain on available capacity as older people live longer and more families turn to care homes for support.

These homes play a fundamental role in offering safety, companionship, and continuity of care.

Yet, they also face considerable challenges. Rising energy costs, staff shortages, and regulatory pressures have placed many smaller independent homes under financial strain.

The sector continues to struggle with more than 130,000 vacancies, and competition for skilled staff is intense.

Meanwhile, the average weekly cost of residential care has risen to around £1,200, with nursing care often exceeding £1,500, which has heightened financial pressures both for residents and providers.

For small rural homes like Summerhayes, those pressures are felt acutely.

The recent increase in employer National Insurance, a tax I often describe as the “jobs tax”, has only added to the burden.

It makes it harder for people like Andy and Charlie—and hundreds of other rural employers—to recruit new staff or reinvest in vital improvements.

Visits like this remind me how essential local services truly are. Whether it’s the dedicated team at Summerhayes, the volunteers at The Burrow community shop in Exbourne, or the campaigners safeguarding other local amenities, these enterprises are the glue that holds our communities together. They combat isolation, create purpose, and allow people to remain connected close to home.

I will continue championing these vital local services in Westminster, fighting for policies that strengthen rather than stifle them. Congratulations again to Andy, Charlie, and Ros Friendship on your beautiful new room and for your extraordinary service to local people.

Sir Mel Stride

MP for Central Devon