Making Space showcases innovation at Care Show London 2026

Published 5 May 2026

Last month, Making Space was proud to attend Care Show London 2026 at ExCeL London, joining colleagues and partners from across the social care sector for two days of learning, collaboration and innovation.

The event provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with professionals from across the country, share our work, and highlight how we are bringing person-centred care to life in meaningful and practical ways.

Bringing co-production to life

A key focus of our presence at the event was our Care Innovation Challenge-winning Making It Real G.A.M.E (Guided Approach to Meaningful Engagement) - a co-produced, interactive tool designed to support meaningful conversations between people who draw on care and support, carers and staff.

The G.A.M.E was showcased on our stand, where visitors were invited to try it out and see first-hand how it supports truly person-centred approaches. It was fantastic to see so much interest and engagement, with colleagues from across the sector keen to explore how it could be used within their own services.

The tool, which won the Care Innovation Challenge 2025, has already been recognised for its impact - rated Excellent for Co-production in our recent PAMMS assessment and winner of the National Housing with Care Award for Tenant Co-production.

Taking to the stage

We were also delighted to be part of the conference programme in the People & Business Theatre, where our CEO, Rachel Peacock, and Chief of Business & Strategy, Keri Smith, joined Helen Glasspool from the National Care Forum to lead a session on: Innovation in person-centred care: how to make it real in social care

The session explored the development of the G.A.M.E, the feedback it has received, and how we are working to build a strong evidence base for the impact of co-production across services. It was fantastic to see a packed theatre and such high levels of engagement around this important topic.

A team effort

Our attendance at Care Show London was supported by colleagues from across the organisation, including representatives from our Fundraising and Operations teams.

We were also joined by two volunteers and members of our Making Change Group, Liam and Ben, who played a key role in co-producing the G.A.M.E as part of the Care Innovation Challenge-winning team. Their involvement reflects the true spirit of co-production - ensuring lived experience is at the heart of innovation.

Thank you

We would like to extend a special thank you to our friends at the National Care Forum for inviting us to be part of the session and for their continued support through the Care Innovation Challenge and Innovation Programme.

It was also a pleasure to share space with fellow innovators and partners, continuing conversations about how we can work together to improve outcomes across social care.

Looking ahead

Care Show London 2026 has been a brilliant opportunity to showcase innovation, share learning and celebrate the power of co-production.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and supporting more services to bring person-centred care to life through the Making It Real G.A.M.E.

Find out more about the G.A.M.E: www.makingspace.co.uk/get-involved/making-it-real-game