Date published: June 18, 2026
Shout about Shared Lives – Sean, Joanne and Calvin’s story
This Shared Lives Week, Shared Lives carers Joanne and Calvin, and the person they support Sean, are supporting us to ‘Shout about Shared Lives’ by sharing their story and encouraging more people across the UK to open their homes.
“We love being Shared Lives carers because it lets us make a real, meaningful difference every single day,” say Joanne and Calvin, two Shared Lives carers part of the Wakefield Shared Lives scheme. “Opening our home and life to someone means we can offer safe, warm and personalised support. It’s a great way to help people live independently in a family setting.”
Sean has been living with Joanne and Calvin and has built a full and active life around the things he enjoys most. He loves walking, going to the gym, shopping, and trips to the cinema. He is also involved with Open Country on Thursdays and Fridays, a Yorkshire based charity supporting people with a disability to access and enjoy the countryside, giving him opportunities to stay active and meet people in his local area.
One of the most important parts of Sean’s life is his relationship with his fiancé. The couple got engaged on Valentine’s Day last year and enjoy spending time together. Sean’s fiancé regularly visits and spends weekends with him at Joanne and Calvin’s home, and the family have even enjoyed holidays together, including a trip to Tenerife. They are already looking forward to their next adventure, a cruise later this year.
For Sean, having the independence to live his life the way he chooses is what makes Shared Lives so special.
“I like living with Joanne and Calvin because I have the freedom to come and go as I please,” says Sean. “I like that my girlfriend can come and visit and stay, and that she can come on holiday with us too. I like the support they offer if I need it. I feel safe and comfortable at their house.”
Joanne and Calvin have seen first-hand how Shared Lives has helped Sean develop greater confidence and independence.
“I’d absolutely recommend Shared Lives because it’s amazing how much you can help people who need that extra support,” they say. “It lets people live in a safe, loving home, build genuine, lasting relationships, and be fully part of a family and local community.
“For us, it’s rewarding work that makes a difference. For Sean, it has helped him grow in confidence and live more independently. It’s a way of supporting people that works so well because it’s built on trust, connection and care that comes from the heart.”
As we celebrate Shared Lives Week, it is stories like Sean, Joanne and Calvin’s that demonstrate the life-changing impact of sharing home and family life, and if more people knew about Shared Lives, more lives would change for the good.
Get involved with this year’s Shared Lives Week and support us to ‘Shout about Shared Lives’ and ‘tell one person’ so that more people can be supported, and more lives can change.
If you’re interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer, visit www.startyoursharedlife.today and reach out to your local scheme.
