Date published: October 29, 2025
New Strategic Spotlight: Growing and diversifying Shared Lives across South Yorkshire
Shared Lives Plus has published a new Strategic Spotlight highlighting how Shared Lives is growing and diversifying across South Yorkshire, supported through the Department of Health and Social Care’s Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF).
Led by Rotherham Council and supported by Shared Lives Plus, the project brought together Shared Lives teams from Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham.
Together they worked to expand opportunities so more people could benefit – from young people moving into adulthood to unpaid carers needing a break.
Running from May 2024 to June 2025, the project strengthened recruitment, improved referral pathways, and built collaboration across the region.
Early outcomes include 37 more people supported in Shared Lives, 15 new Shared Lives carers recruited or in approval, and a significant increase in awareness among health and social care professionals.
“This Accelerating Reform Fund project has made a real difference, not only in Rotherham but across South Yorkshire. It has helped to create new opportunities and build partnerships to sustain Shared Lives into the future,”
Shared Lives Plus provided a tailored consultancy package to support this work – from scoping and workshops to scheme “deep dives,” carer recruitment audits, and champion training for professionals.
Read the full Strategic Spotlight: Growing and diversifying Shared Lives across South Yorkshire
