Shared Lives carers Pat and Jeff Nelson win award for outstanding contribution

Pat and Jeff started fostering in the 1970s. They were among the first to foster children with additional needs. They welcomed twin sisters, Nickie and Jackie, into their home when the girls were three years old. At the time, the twins lived in an institution with little interaction. Pat and Jeff wanted them to have a home and a family. Under their care, the twins thrived.

When the twins turned 18, the couple joined Shared Lives to keep their family together. Over the years, they cared for multiple children, including a young man they later adopted. But their impact went beyond their own home. Seeing a lack of support for children with disabilities, Pat and Jeff took action. In the 1970s, they hired a church hall and placed an ad in the local paper, inviting parents of children with disabilities to meet. Over 200 families attended, showing the need for better support services.

Vanessa Perry, Service Manager at Shared Lives, United Response Merseyside, nominated Pat and Jeff for their decades of commitment: “They’ve got three older biological children, and their battle, as they always call it, was for their three younger children to have the same chances and opportunities as their older children. Their focus has always been, ‘It’s not what you can’t do, we only focus on what you can do.’”

In 2023, Nickie passed away. Pat and Jeff made sure she was surrounded by family and treated with dignity. They continue to care for Jackie, now 52 years old, and remain dedicated Shared Lives carers.

Vanessa said: “I need as many people as possible to know about Pat and Jeff, who they are, what they’ve done. I feel on a bit of a mission to tell people their story, because people don’t know what they’ve done over the last 50 years, which is absolutely incredible.”

At the North West awards ceremony, Pat and Jeff received a standing ovation—the first in the event’s 17-year history. The judges praised their dedication, saying: “Pat and Jeff Nelson have shown unwavering dedication and resilience since 1975, challenging adversity and changing the minds of many. Their impact has been profound and inspiring.”

Now, they move forward to the Great British Care Awards National Finals, which celebrate excellence across the care sector.

If you’re inspired by Pat and Jeff to become a Shared Lives carer, find out more and enquire at startyoursharedlife.today