Five new films showcase how Shared Lives is growing across South Yorkshire

In 2024, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) secured ARF funding to expand Shared Lives across the region. The project aimed to help more people benefit from Shared Lives while growing support for people living with dementia, people experiencing mental ill health, young people moving into adulthood and unpaid carers in need of respite. 

As part of the programme, Shared Lives Plus provided strategic consultancy and hands-on support to South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and the four local authorities between May 2024 and June 2025. 

One of the key themes to emerge during the project was the need to raise awareness of Shared Lives among potential carers, professionals and local communities. Together, partners commissioned a series of films featuring real Shared Lives carers and people supported by Shared Lives to help bring the model to life. 

Rather than explaining what Shared Lives is, the films show it through genuine relationships, everyday moments and the voices of people with lived experience. 

The collection includes four local films from Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, alongside a fifth film celebrating the collaboration across the South Yorkshire consortium. 

Our Strategic Advice team worked alongside local leaders, Shared Lives schemes, carers and people supported by Shared Lives to help grow and diversify Shared Lives across South Yorkshire. 

Together, we: 

• carried out more than 20 discovery interviews and over 10 workshops with Shared Lives carers, people supported by Shared Lives, commissioners, practitioners and partners 

• identified opportunities to strengthen referral pathways and increase awareness of Shared Lives 

• developed a South Yorkshire-wide Shared Lives carer recruitment strategy 

• built partnerships across health, social care and the voluntary sector 

• increased awareness of Shared Lives among commissioners, practitioners and senior leaders 

• established a collaborative approach across all four local authority areas. 

The films are one example of how the project turned strategy into practical action, creating resources that local schemes can continue using to recruit carers, raise awareness and reach new audiences long after the project has ended. 

By the end of the project, South Yorkshire had already achieved: 

• 37 additional people supported through Shared Lives 

• 15 new Shared Lives carers recruited or in the approval process 

• growth in support for people living with dementia, people experiencing mental ill health, young people moving into adulthood and unpaid carers 

• stronger collaboration across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 

• greater awareness of Shared Lives among professionals across health and social care. 

The films build on these achievements by giving every scheme a high-quality resource that can be used across websites, social media, events and local campaigns for years to come. 

To learn more about how the project helped grow and diversify Shared Lives across South Yorkshire, read our Strategic Spotlight: Growing and diversifying Shared Lives across South Yorkshire. 

Barnsley 

Meet Ryan, who is proud to call Barnsley home. Hear how Shared Lives has helped him build confidence, develop new life skills and achieve his goal of becoming a first aider, showing the difference that care, kindness and everyday support can make. 

Doncaster 

The film follows James as he celebrates his 21st birthday with the family who have supported him since he was six. It shows how Shared Lives has given him the stability to stay with the people he knows and loves, build confidence, learn new skills and work towards greater independence. 

Rotherham 

Meet Catherine, Neal and Nicki as they share how Shared Lives has helped Catherine build the life she wanted. The film also visits a Shared Lives community coffee morning, celebrating the friendships and connections that Shared Lives creates. 

Sheffield 

The Sheffield film follows several people whose lives have been shaped by Shared Lives. From Ewan building friendships and confidence to Dylan caring for animals and hoping to work in an animal shelter, it shows how the right support can help people become more independent and look ahead to the future. 

South Yorkshire consortium 

Bringing together the stories from across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, this film celebrates the partnership that has helped grow and diversify Shared Lives across South Yorkshire.  

The Department of Health and Social Care’s Accelerating Reform Fund is supporting innovation across adult social care in England, with Shared Lives playing a key role. More than half of England’s Integrated Care Systems (27 out of 42) have chosen to prioritise the growth of Shared Lives using ARF funding, and Shared Lives Plus is currently providing strategic advice and consultancy to 14 Integrated Care System areas. 

Whether it’s developing a growth strategy, strengthening referral pathways, supporting recruitment, building partnerships or helping areas communicate the impact of Shared Lives, we work alongside local systems to turn ambition into action. 

If you’re interested in establishing, growing or diversifying Shared Lives in your area, find out more about our Consultancy Support service or contact our Strategic Advice team at consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk.