Join Theos to explore how social care is a key arena for the intersection between love and work – part of our new report series: Work Shift.

How might the concept of love change how we value and understand social care?

The devaluation of care work is a problem not only because of its economic implications, but because it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what care is, what work is and even what love is.

Join Theos for this special evening as we launch our new report Love’s Labours: good work, care work and a mutual economy, which explores the intersection between love, work and care, and reimagines how caring professionals are valued, and demonstrates how the integration of Christian theological ideas of love and dignity allows a broader, more holistic policy debate than the current economistic one.

The evening will include a panel conversation, chaired by journalist Stefan Stern, as well as the launch of a powerful photo exhibition featuring portraiture of care workers, by photographer Ruth Samuels.

The report forms part of a new Theos report series entitled Work Shift: How Love Could Change Work. It charts some of the deep changes in the labour market: how millions more of us are working from home, the rise in insecure work, gender shifts in the labour market, and changes underway in the world of social care.

Work is the main way most of us interact with the wider community outside our immediate household. Good work can improve feelings of social integration and life satisfaction; while unemployment can reduce a sense of social worth. But work is changing, and not always in positive ways. Our Work Shift series explores the issues.

We’re delighted that the event will be hosted by the Joseph Centre for Dignified Work at the Guild Church of St Katharine Cree in London. Join us for what we hope will be a memorable evening.

Get tickets here.

About Theos

Theos is the UK’s leading religion and society think tank. We exist to enrich the public conversation around faith and belief, which is so often misinformed, inaccurate, and concentrated around a narrow set of issues. Since our foundation in 2006, we have produced nearly 100 original research reports and books on a range of issues pertaining to the wider intersection between religion and society, from the future of funerals to faith–based social action, the role of faith in education to the impact of churches in fostering social cohesion. We have been described by The Economist as “a body that commands attention”. To this end, members of the Theos team are regularly available to comment on current affairs and Theos’ recent research output in a range of media outlets. In recent years, our research has been covered across a range of mainstream media including The Times, The Economist, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Spectator, Prospect, Huffington Post, CNN, The Church Times and a range of local and national radio stations. Theos also runs two separate podcasts (The Sacred and Reading Our Times), with guests ranging from Nick Cave to Rowan Williams. Across all our work, we combine methodological rigour with a passion for engaging the public conversation where it stands.

Panellists:

Stefan Stern

Stefan Stern is a journalist and author. He writes for the Financial Times, the Guardian and Prospect among other titles. He has written two books on management and leadership, and his third book, Fair or Foul – the Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition, will be published by Unbound in July this year.

Alexandra Davis, Pilgrims’ Friend Society

Alexandra has been at Pilgrims’ Friend Society as Director of Marketing and Communications since September 2019, overseeing the development of brand, messaging, marketing, and engagement. With a background in the Christian charity sector, Alexandra has worked in number of roles relating to communications and supporter relations with a particular focus on church engagement and marketing. Alexandra has a Masters degree in Democracy and Democratisation from University College London, is an active member of her local Baptist church, and prefers it when West Ham win.

Hannah Rich, Theos

Hannah joined Theos in November 2017. She is a mixed–methods researcher and author of several Theos reports including Growing Good (2020) and Beyond Left and Right (2021) and A Torn Safety Net (2022). Previously, she worked for a social innovation think tank, a learning disability charity and as a care worker. Hannah studied French and Spanish at Durham University, including a year abroad working with faith–based organisations in Paris and Madrid. She also holds an MSc in Inequalities and Social Science from LSE.

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