Outstanding Shared Lives carer award winners 2019!

Adi Dalman, from PossAbilities Rochdale, won Outstanding Shared Lives carer of 2019 for her incredible support helping one young trans woman to enjoy being and discovering herself. You can watch her nomination here:

Claire Morphet, PossAbilities family support manager, said, “Two years ago, Adi started supporting a young person at a crossroads in their life and enabled her to work on her inner self to grow in confidence and become the person we know today, who is gregarious, joyous and fun.” Adi said, “It’s a total surprise, we just didn’t expect this at all, thank you!”

The Lifetime Achievement award went to Diana Salvage, Shared Lives carer from Grace Eyre in East Sussex, who has opened her heart and home and encouraged her family, as well as the people she’s supported long term, to be involved in the local community, doing extraordinary acts of kindness for 50 years. Nominated by Tracey, her daughter, also a Shared Lives carer, she was told she was going to visit Liverpool for a birthday trip, shortly after a major back operation. Little did she know she was going to the awards ceremony – or that she would be presented with this award!

Russ Jordan, Grace Eyre scheme manager added, “Through all this time all those who have lived or had respite with Diana have experienced a very caring and nurturing home and been able to fulfil their potential through this care, support and guidance. We’re lucky to have her!”

Watch her nomination by Tracey, her daughter, also a Shared Lives carer, and Pam who’s lived with their family for 40 years.

and Diana’s thank you speech!

Highly commended for outstanding Shared Lives carer 2019

Stephanie and Martin Kenny, Families Matter Shared Lives service, Belfast

Julie McDowell, scheme manager, says, “We nominated Stephanie and Martin for being very caring, understanding, flexible, accommodating and selfless couple who share their home and family life for respite for three people. They both work full time, have two grown up children and give up their free time to support the adults living and visiting them. They have been very proactive in assisting of the promotion of the Shared Lives Service through sharing their story to help inspire others.

The sister of the woman they support, who has serious health issues, says, “I could not survive without them, there are like family to my sister and it is home from home to her”.  Ann herself says “they are part of my life and I love going to see them.”

The third young man they support, settled in very quickly in to their home and made great progress in developing his independence skills. His main carer says “they mean the world to me, I know he is very well looked after when he is with them and it gives me the respite that I need.”

Martha and Reuben Fosberry, Shared Lives carers, Herefordshire

Martha and Reuben’s match wasn’t straightforward, they were always keen to support someone and nearly set up a parent and child Shared Lives arrangement in 2017. Despite a massive amount of preparatory work by Martha and Reuben, the arrangement never came to fruition, to great disappointment all round. But their perseverance paid off and along with their young family, they have invested a huge amount of time and effort helping Bee, who lives with them. Through each challenge, Martha and Reuben turned the support up a notch to resolve each issue and Bee is now looking at all work and volunteering opportunities.

Helen Mercer, Shared Lives carer, Hackney (we presented the award to her delighted scheme workers! pictured below)

Sarah Hancock, Shared Lives carer, Derby City Council for supporting people with dementia with a musical twist!

Sarah said, “The awards ceremony had a very warm and friendly atmosphere and it all felt like a real special treat to be there. As for receiving an award; I was overwhelmed really and over the moon. It was wonderful to have that acknowledgement for something that is more than a job and is really a life choice and a privilege. For me personally; I’m so happy that my way of using music as therapy (with my older people) and to try and nurture talent and overcome obstacles (with my younger people) has been recognised as a worthwhile activity within the context of Shared Lives and I hope my example will inspire and benefit others in the future.”

Below: Sarah Hancock, second from right, with Louisa Moss, scheme worker, Derby City Council, second from left.