It’s Shared Lives Week: 26-30 June 2023
Shared Lives Week happens every year in June. During Shared Lives Week, we celebrate the best of Shared Lives and show our gratitude for the amazing work of our Shared Lives carers.
A big thank you to all Shared Lives carers at Grace Eyre. We recognise the contribution you make for people in our local communities.
Have you considered being a Shared Lives carer?
This Shared Lives Week, we are looking to recruit more Shared Lives carers to support people with learning disabilities to live in their community.
A Shared Lives carer is someone who opens up their home and family life to include an adult with support needs. They help people with learning disabilities, autism or both create the independent life they want.
But what is it like to be a Shared Lives carer?
Hannah and Sheila enjoying their back garden.
We spoke to Hannah, who lives with her young family in Brighton and also supports two adults with learning disabilities as a Grace Eyre Shared Lives carer.
Hannah said:
“I enjoy it because I get to see the reward of the people who live with me being independent and happy, and seeing the small changes that I do to make a positive impact in their life; but also being able to raise my family, work from home and have fun while doing it.”
To become a Grace Eyre Shared Lives carer, you must be over 18 years of age. You don’t need specific qualifications – just the right values, commitment and space to accommodate someone at home. If you don’t have a spare room, you can still support someone living in their own home through our Shared Lives Kinship.
There are schemes across the UK, but the Shared Lives service at Grace Eyre is the oldest and longest running in the country. In fact, our founder Grace Eyre Woodhead created the concept. Read more about Grace Eyre Woodhead and her legacy.
Hannah said:
“When researching Shared Lives schemes, I chose Grace Eyre because I liked their morals and the ethics behind their work. At my induction, I got to meet different people and it felt like one big, happy family workplace.”
David Matthews, Head of Shared Lives at Grace Eyre, said:
David Matthews, Head of Shared Lives
“Shared Lives is a great, fulfilling way to earn an income from home that can fit with your lifestyle. Grace Eyre offers carers full training, induction and ongoing support, as well as access to a network of other carers.”
Grace Eyre’s Shared Lives scheme recruits, trains and supports self-employed carers to provide a range of support, in and from their home, to people with a variety of care needs.
If you are interested in learning more about being a Shared Lives carer, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!
You are also welcome to call us on 01273 201 900 or email sharedlives@grace-eyre.org.