A message to our members as we reflect on 2025 

Some of our key highlights from the year include:

• The successful launch of our ‘Live More‘ Shared Lives pilot programme across Greater Manchester and several other locations across the UK, supporting people living with dementia and their families.
• The continued success of our Young People Leaving Care programme, which has now provided support to over 115 young people in Shared Lives since its launch in 2024.
• Co-hosting a pivotal Shared Lives parliamentary event, bringing together key voices to advocate for the sector.
• Supporting 14 Integrated Care Board (ICB) areas to deliver Accelerating Reform Fund Shared Lives development and growth projects

As we approach the festive season, we want to take a moment to express our deepest thanks for the incredible difference you make in the lives of so many.

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful festive season, and a Happy New Year.

With gratitude,

The Shared Lives Plus Team

Dear all,

As another year draws to close, I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for the work you do to support people to live happy, independent, and fulfilling lives. During 2025 I have met and heard from truly inspirational Shared Lives carers, Shared Lives schemes and Homeshare organisations all providing outstanding support in local communities.

The re-launch of our Shared Living Awards this year spotlighted the incredible impact you all have on people supported in Shared Lives and Homeshare – I know the judges panel had a tough job deciding!

I recognise that the political and economic environment continues to be challenging, with the latest budget containing no new funding for social care, which is vital for people to live the best lives they can.

Despite this I remain positive, with backing for investment into community-based support communicated across the sector, The King’s Fund cited, “For some, the way social care services are commissioned and provided needs to change more fundamentally. Typically, this involves a move away from institutionalised, professionalised care towards much broader forms of support, exemplified by services such as the Shared Lives scheme and other strength or asset-based approaches” in the October release of Fixing social care: the six key problems and how to tackle them.

Shared Lives Plus, Shared Lives schemes and Shared Lives carers have all contributed this year to building a strong relationship with Baroness Louise Casey who is chairing an England based Independent Commission on adult social care: the Casey Commission, which will produce tangible recommendations to make adult social care better and for people drawing on care and their families to be at the heart of decision making.

Shared Lives carer Susan Smith from Shared Lives South West was one of two Shared Lives carers who attended an evidence session with the Casey Commission at the Cabinet Office and said, “It was great to hear everyone’s point of views from so many different perspectives as there were so many professions there.

Fantastic opportunity to be part of a possible change in future support and how it’s provided. During 2026 we will continue to engage with the Commission, to contribute towards shaping better quality care and support, and encourage investment into Shared Lives.

A highlight of the year was Shared Lives Plus being invited to join Shared Lives South West to host a parliamentary event to raise the profile of Shared Lives. Speakers included Shared Lives carers from Islington Shared Lives and Shared Lives South West, and Gracie, a Shared Lives Plus ambassador supported by Rotherham Shared Lives.

The event was well received, with MPs who attended (or even those who couldn’t) making contact with their local schemes to visit them in the new year.

In Scotland, I was pleased to be able to help facilitate a gathering in Edinburgh where people involved in Shared Lives and ambassadors worked together to produce a guide to support partners in Scotland to develop Shared Lives. This will be published soon!

Shared Lives and Homeshare has had a great year of media coverage, locally and nationally. BBC Breakfast, Take a Break magazine, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Look East and Chat magazine – to name a few.

Homeshare West household, Dorothy and Rumeysa featured on The One Show in April where Homeshare was described as a “life-changing scheme” by presenter Alex Jones.

Shared Lives will be following, with Oxfordshire Shared Lives due to be featuring on The One Show soon!

Looking forward to 2026, I am excited to see and hear about many more Shared Lives and Homeshare households, living well and enjoying their time together.

For those who celebrate I wish you a great festive season and a happy new year.

I will leave you with the words from a speech by Gracie, who is supported through Shared Lives, to MPs at the reception about Shared Lives,

“It’s amazing what a bit of love can do!”

 

Ewan King, CEO Shared Lives Plus