Oxfordshire Shared Lives carers recognised as finalists at 2026 OACP carer awards

For Iuliana and Nick, caring is far more than a role; it is part of their daily life, rooted in decades of commitment to supporting others. As highly valued carers the couple have become an indispensable part of Oxfordshire’s Shared Lives scheme.

From their family home, they provide year-round support for more than 20 individuals with a wide range of complex needs, including people with a learning disability, a physical disability, autism, Down syndrome, global developmental delay, and mental health conditions. Their willingness to step in during emergency arrangements and hospital discharge situations – often at very short notice, has made them trusted and reliable carers within the scheme.

But their remarkable journey in caring began long before arriving in the UK.

The couple first met while volunteering in Romania, supporting traumatised and neglected children in environments that demanded exceptional resilience, empathy, and emotional strength. From the age of just 14, Iuliana dedicated herself to volunteering in care homes for older people and orphanages, including supporting children living with HIV/AIDS while helping source essential food and supplies from local businesses.

Those early experiences shaped a lifelong mission to support people.

Their two adult sons were raised in an environment built around compassion, with one now following in their footsteps as a Shared Lives carer himself. Their daughter, who has Down syndrome, thrives in the loving and inclusive family home they have created, while Iuliana’s mother also lives with the family, contributing to a household grounded in respect, inclusion, and mutual support.

Those they support describe Iuliana and Nick as friendly, funny, patient, and endlessly accommodating. Their home has become a place where people not only feel safe, but where confidence and independence flourish. Family barbecues, Easter celebrations, Christmas gatherings, and everyday moments of belonging are all shared together, creating a sense of family for individuals who may have experienced trauma, instability, or isolation in the past.

One individual supported by the family said: “I enjoy having short breaks with Iuliana, Nick and family, they are nice people.”

Through extraordinary compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to others, Iuliana and Nick continue to embody the very best of what Shared Lives can achieve — making them truly deserving finalists at the OACP Carer Awards.