It’s Shared Lives Week: 15-21 June 2026
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.
This year’s focus is Shout about Shared Lives – care worth talking about
- Because great care deserves to be shared
- And if more people know about it, more lives will change.
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 a learning disability, or autistic people or both create the independent life they want.
What is it like to be a Shared Lives carer?
Hannah, Shared Lives carer
Hannah, who lives with her young family in Brighton and also supports adults with learning disabilities as a Shared Lives carer, 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.”
How to become a Shared Lives carer
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 for short time periods of time through Shared Lives Short Breaks (or respite).
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 also 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
David Matthews, Head of Shared Lives at Grace Eyre, said:
“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.
Shout About Shared Lives webinar
On Thursday 18th June between 2:00-3:00 pm Shared Lives Plus are hosting a free zoom webinar to ‘Shout about Shared Lives’, raising awareness and inviting people to come learn about Shared Lives.
The webinar will be hosted by Dr Krish Kandiah OBE, a social entrepreneur, CEO, broadcaster, foster carer and Shared Lives carer! Hear from panellists with lived experience of Shared Lives, Shared Lives carers, and family members about their experiences and how if more people knew about it, more lives would change.
Queries
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.