Listening, Kindness and Connection: The Journey of Person Centred Voices

As we mark twenty years of the ALLIANCE, Person Centred Voices continues to show the power of listening, kindness and connection.

For twenty years, the ALLIANCE has placed lived experience at the heart of health and social care. Person Centred Voices builds on that foundation by championing stories that remind us what really matters – people, kindness and connection.

It all began with a promise to my mum.

When my mum Joan was diagnosed with vascular dementia, our lives changed forever. During those years, I often wondered if others were facing the same struggles. That question became Tommy On Tour – a journey to walk through towns and cities across Scotland, meeting carers, listening to their stories and collecting letters to share with the Scottish Parliament.

Hundreds of letters poured in, each one a reflection of love, resilience and hope. Sharing those stories became a way to challenge misunderstanding and build awareness.

After my mum passed away in 2012, I made a promise to continue this work. Today, as National Lead for Person Centred Voices at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, I carry forward that mission. What started as Tommy On Tour has grown into a movement that has reached over 300,000 people through more than 2,500 talks, campaigns and events.

Through initiatives such as Letters of Life and Love Stories, What Matters to You?, Intelligent Kindness and Civility Saves Lives, our message has remained the same: care is not just about tasks or systems – it’s about people, relationships and compassion.

Every story, every conversation, every connection matters. Each voice helps break down stigma and strengthens a culture of empathy and understanding. Over and above policies and strategies, it’s people who make the difference – and that truth shines through in every story shared.

Milestones along the way

2007–2012: Caring for my mum, Joan

2011: Launch of Tommy On Tour

2012: Creation of Dementia Carer Voices (30,000 pledges gathered)

2014: First Concert for Caring event

2016: Campaigns expand to include What Matters to You?

2018: Creation of Carer Voices

2019: Second Concert for Caring; outreach surpasses 150,000 people

2023: Third Concert for Caring; outreach reaches 250,000 people

2023: Establishment of Person Centred Voices

2026: 300,000 people reached through 2,500+ talks and 30,000 pledges

As we mark twenty years of the ALLIANCE, Person Centred Voices stands as a reflection of what’s possible when listening and kindness lead the way. The conversations we’ve started must keep growing, and the pledges we’ve gathered must turn into action. Together, we can build a future where compassion is not just an aspiration but a daily reality.

This journey is far from over and the best chapters are still to come.

Tommy Whitelaw is National Lead for Person Centred Voices at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

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