International Women’s Day 2026 – Give To Gain

At Oakland Care, we believe deeply in the power of giving, not only through the exceptional, compassionate care we provide to our residents each day, but also through how we lift, support, and champion one another as a team.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give To Gain, celebrates the idea that when we give generously, including our time, knowledge, encouragement, or resources, we create space for others to thrive. And when women thrive, communities flourish. Care homes flourish. People flourish.

For us, Give To Gain is more than a theme. It reflects how our teams already operate across our homes. As our CEO, Joanne Balmer (BEM), explains:

“At Oakland Care, giving is central to who we are. When we give our time, support, and opportunities to one another, we create a culture where people feel valued, confident, and able to grow. The Give To Gain theme reflects the way our homes already operate – uplifting women, empowering teams, and nurturing an environment built on compassion and respect. In giving generously, we not only gain a more inclusive culture, but we also build a team where everyone has the chance to thrive.”

This spirit of generosity is visible every day around our organisation. We respect every individual, give a voice to those who need to be heard, offer opportunities for colleagues to grow, provide mentoring and encouragement across all roles, and make time, attention, and kindness available to our residents and their families.

And in giving, we gain stronger teams, deepen trust, and create a culture where women feel supported to grow into their full potential.

How we’re celebrating across our homes

This International Women’s Day, we are encouraging all our homes and teams to take part by striking the official Give To Gain pose and sharing short videos capturing how they embody Give To Gain each day –  whether through mentoring, celebrating achievements, supporting colleagues, or uplifting women in their roles.

International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the extraordinary contributions of women within our organisation and across the world. But at Oakland Care, the spirit of Give To Gain is alive throughout the year in the way we care, support, and empower one another.