Meet the new ambassadors of our Shared Lives care leavers programme

Katie, Victoria, Gracie and Heather bring a combination of lived experience and understanding of Shared Lives care. As ambassadors, they champion the programme, raise awareness of its impact, and help influence positive change across health, care, housing and education.

Our care leavers programme matches care-experienced young people with approved Shared Lives carers, who open their homes to offer stability, support and a sense of belonging during a vital stage in life.

The ambassadors are central to promoting the programme’s values to commissioners, decision-makers, and partner organisations across the UK. They speak at events, co-producing training, support recruitment and help shape local and national policy.

Katie, Victoria and Gracie are new to the team, while Heather – already a valued Shared Lives ambassador – is now focusing her experience and passion on supporting care leavers.

Katie lives in Tividale, Oldbury, in the West Midlands and brings lived experience of both care and Shared Lives: “I help out the Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives team with events to promote Shared Lives,” she told us.

She’s used her own experience to help with their recruitment, as part of an interview panel: “My role was asking questions based on someone who has been fostered and is now in Shared Lives – like: ‘How would you go about building a relationship with a young person that came from fostering?’ as often young people who were fostered before being in Shared Lives don’t like meetings with people in authority.”

Katie helps deliver autism training and is developing Tier 2 Autism training for the Oliver McGowan programme. She’s also shared her story at a learning disability partnership board, speaking about education: “I talked about my experience of education and how all tutors in further education should be trained in learning disabilities and autism.”

She leads a busy life outside of ambassador work too. Alongside volunteering with the Camphill Village Trust, she helps out at a non-mainstream college and recently launched a new group: “I set up a social group where we go bowling at the end of every month, with the help of Dudley Voices for Choices, in partnership with Shared Lives.”

Katie loves travel and theatre trips: “We also go out for meals and to theatres and see shows such as Cinderella, Frozen, 101 Dalmatians.”

But one thing matters most: “The most important thing to me is my dog called George. George is a French bulldog who is playful, funny and a happy dog.”

You can read more about Katie on the Camphill Village Trust website.

Victoria lives in Northampton and brings energy, experience and a great attitude to trying new things: “I will challenge myself in different situations,” she said.

Victoria co-delivers the Oliver McGowan training for Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and First Response Training. She’s also represented Shared Lives nationally: “I went to London and attended a conference for a Shared Lives pilot scheme.”

She’s helped interview social workers and contributed to Shared Lives panels: “I talk with Shared Lives carers and how we can improve the service.”

Outside of ambassador work, Victoria is a Rainbows Leader with Girlguiding and enjoys spending time outdoors: “I attend a horse yard called Lottie’s Yard and I go to this twice a month – I really enjoy this and spending time with friends and the animals.”

Heather lives in Scotland and brings honesty, kindness, humour and purpose to her role as an ambassador: “People like that I bring a lot of ideas to the table. I have also written a lot of empowering speeches.”

Heather has already represented Shared Lives at high-profile events – including meeting Ministers in Scotland and presenting alongside fellow ambassadors at the first in-person Community of Practice event in Birmingham this May. She wants Shared Lives to reach more young people: “I think it is important that Shared Lives is available for more young people and that social workers know about it.”

She’s helped interview new staff – including the current Chief Executive, Ewan King – and delivered training to social workers. Heather also supports Cornerstone, a Shared Lives provider in Scotland, where she helped create a buddy scheme.

Outside of Shared Lives, she volunteers at her local hospital and sings in a rock choir: “We sing at different events. I’m also a volunteer leader at my local Brownie group but most importantly, my family is everything to me.”

Gracie lives in Rotherham and brings honesty, humour and resilience to the team. Known for her thoughtful advice and kind nature, she’s someone who makes others feel at ease: “People have told me that I have a wise head on my shoulders. Even when anxious, I will always give something a try and will never pass on trying something new. I do not shy away from having conversations with people and I’m very good at making new friends and for showing good humour to make others laugh.”

Gracie speaks regularly at events and is involved in a wide range of ambassador activities: “I’ve spoken at a few events so far to tell my story and introduce myself.”

For the past two years, she’s also volunteered at a local foodbank, helping people through difficult times: “I feel like kind people and sharing kindness is very important, to never judge or shame anyone and to always show respect to others. Treat people how you want to be treated.”

We’re pleased to welcome all four ambassadors to the team. We look forward to working with them and will be regularly sharing updates on their work on our news page and on the Care Leavers Programme page of our website.