Shared Lives Week 2026: Thank you for shouting about Shared Lives!

Shared Lives Week 2026 brought together Shared Lives carers, Shared Lives schemes and people supported by Shared Lives carers from across the UK. Throughout the week, people shared stories, hosted events, met with local decision-makers and celebrated the relationships at the heart of Shared Lives social care.

This year’s theme, Shout about Shared Lives – care worth talking about, focused on helping more people understand what Shared Lives is, how it works, and why so many people describe it as life-changing.

From picnics, roadshows and open days to awareness campaigns, media coverage and social media videos, the week was full of conversations, celebrations and opportunities to help more people discover Shared Lives.

During Shared Lives Week, we shared stories from people supported through Shared Lives, carers, family members and professionals working alongside schemes.

Many of the stories challenged common assumptions about Shared Lives, showing how social care can support people to make and keep fulfilling relationships, find purpose and do the things they love, while also highlighting the care and matching process behind Shared Lives arrangements and the wide range of people supported by Shared Lives carers.

We heard from Jessie and Henry, a couple from Blackburn who became Shared Lives carers in their twenties while balancing full-time jobs and renovating their first home. (Pictured left with Adam, who they support). Their story shows that adults starting out in their professional lives can also become Shared Lives carers. They featured in our national Shared Lives Week press campaign, which was also picked up regionally in Blackburn:

• Shared Lives Week 2026: ”People think carers are older – we’re 27” – The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News
•  Blackburn couple, both 27, challenge assumptions about carers in Shared Lives Week story – Blackburn Life

We also shared stories highlighting how Shared Lives can support young people leaving care, including Amy and Caleb’s story in Glasgow and Daniel and Kyle’s story in South East Wales, showing how Shared Lives can help people maintain important relationships as they move into adulthood.

Other stories focused on the flexibility of Shared Lives, including Lorraine and Florence’s 16-year relationship through Positive Futures’ Families Matter Shared Lives Service in Northern Ireland. (Pictured right). Their story was also featured on BBC Radio Ulster (from 45 minutes).

Schemes also shared fantastic stories, photos and videos throughout the week, helping us reach thousands of people and encourage more conversations about Shared Lives.

A few examples include Tameside Shared Lives who shared the story of Shared Lives carer Cath Tynan, who has supported people through the scheme for more than a decade and describes the role as “an absolute privilege”.

PSS shared a series of videos exploring what Shared Lives means to the people involved, while Age NI Shared Lives shared the story of Ian and Derek alongside a film celebrating their Shared Lives carers.

South East Wales Shared Lives shared powerful films highlighting the breadth of support Shared Lives can provide, while Telford and Wrekin Shared Lives shared a video featuring Shared Lives carer Jeannie, who explained why Shared Lives was the right fit for her.

Shared Lives Week generated coverage across local, regional and national media, helping us reach new audiences and raise awareness of Shared Lives. Coverage included:

• Care group encourages people to ‘shout about care’ – Mid Devon Advertiser
• Could you make a life-changing difference by sharing your home? – Knowsley News
• Torbay carer helping raise awareness of life-changing Shared Lives support – Torbay Weekly
• Couple shares home to change lives as carers call goes out – Salisbury And Avon Gazette
• Shared Lives Week – Bath & North East Somerset Council News
• Powys Council marks Shared Lives Week with Elan Valley event – County Times
• Residents encouraged to talk about Shared Lives care scheme – Bridgwater Mercury
• Community news from across West Somerset – West Somerset Free Press
• Shared Lives carers to be celebrated at Elan Valley event – Shropshire Star
• Shared Lives Week – How Shared Lives can support increased independence – Dorset Council News
• From foster family to forever home: how shared lives changed Daniel’s future – Herald.Wales
• Joyce’s Shared Lives journey continues to thrive – Nottinghamshire County Council
• Shared Lives Week 2026 – “It’s fun, flexible and makes a real difference” – Wiltshire Council News
• Wiltshire residents invited to join ‘Shared Lives’ scheme – Salisbury Journal
• Rutland County Council appeal for carers to join community care scheme – LincsOnline
• Spread the word about being a Shared Lives carer this Shared Lives week – Cornwall Council News
• Care group encourages people to ‘shout about care’ – Teignmouth Post
• Support adults with additional needs, become a Shared Lives Carer – Warwickshire County Council News
• How Shared Lives can support increased independence – Bournemouth Echo
• Could you become a Shared Lives carer? – Your Croydon
• Shared Lives Carers: Join Wakefield’s Caring Community – Yorkshire.com
• Rural Wales celebrates the carers who open their homes to vulnerable adults – Cambrian News
• Shared Lives Week – Daniel and Kyle’s story – Aberdare Online

Not all the coverage was online or in local newspapers. The Sandwell Shared Lives team took to the airwaves with Birmingham Hospital Broadcasting Network (BHBN) to talk about Shared Lives and encourage more people to consider becoming carers. (Pictured left)

Wakefield Shared Lives also used Shared Lives Week to record and share a podcast featuring Shared Lives carer Raph and the young man he supports, Billy, to help raise awareness of Shared Lives.

Shared Lives Week was marked by a huge range of events and activities across the UK, bringing together carers, people supported, families, professionals and local communities.

Of course, it’s impossible to capture every event, story and activity that took place during Shared Lives Week in a single article. Here’s just a snapshot of some of the fantastic things that happened during the week:

Sheffield Shared Lives hosted a picnic in the park in Hillsborough, while Rotherham Shared Lives organised a walk in a country park. Barnsley Shared Lives celebrated with a party featuring Zumba, a buffet, bingo and a disco.

Blackburn with Darwen Shared Lives organised a community litter pick, a bowling event and a treat sale aimed at local professionals, while PSS Lincolnshire Shared Lives organised a picnic in the park.

In Bury, Persona brought people together at The Green Café for a day of cake, conversation and themed cushion making. Wigan Shared Lives promoted Shared Lives at a local leisure centre, while MacIntyre Shared Lives Warrington enjoyed a picnic in Victoria Park.

Stoke-on-Trent Shared Lives held roadshows across the area throughout the week, including a stall at Tunstall Market, and raised awareness at an NHS Healthy Me session. Sandwell Shared Lives celebrated with a visit to the Black Country Living Museum, while Telford and Wrekin Shared Lives marked the start of the week at Princess Royal Hospital. (Pictured left).

Coventry Shared Lives attended an Adult Learning Disability and Autism Team event to raise awareness of Shared Lives, while Knowsley Shared Lives hosted awareness roadshows throughout the week and Croydon Shared Lives ran an information event.

Wiltshire Shared Lives hosted open events in local libraries alongside an Instagram Live question-and-answer session. Shared Lives South West celebrated Shared Lives Week with a Cream Tea and Natter event, featuring a special visit from Ilminster Town Crier Karin Cumming, who delivered a town cry about Shared Lives and the difference it makes.

Hertfordshire Shared Lives held its annual picnic and Surrey Choices held a celebration at a local tea room, attended by Shared Lives carers, people supported and Shared Lives Plus Membership Support Manager Cathy. (Pictured right)

Stockton-on-Tees Shared Lives marked the start of Shared Lives Week by lighting up Newport Bridge, Stockton Riverside and Stockton Town Centre in purple. (Main picture, top of the page). The scheme also launched its new Home and Heart Peer Support Group, bringing together existing Shared Lives carers and people interested in finding out more about becoming a carer.

South Tyneside Shared Lives hosted a celebration event at Hedworth Hall, bringing together people supported, carers, professionals and families. The scheme also organised a mini triathlon, with participants completing walking, swimming and cycling activities and receiving medals and certificates.

Shared Lives Powys organised wellbeing activities including nature-inspired art, wildlife activities and a forest walk. Shared Lives Fife hosted its annual tea party, enjoyed an outing to Blair Drummond Safari Park and announced plans to celebrate the scheme’s 40th anniversary next year.

Cornerstone Shared Lives organised a visit to Five Sisters Zoo, while Midlothian Shared Lives hosted drop-in sessions and Edinburgh Shared Lives promoted themselves at a local garden centre. Age NI Shared Lives hosted a lunch for carers.

Shared Lives Cumberland celebrated Shared Lives Week by taking on the Gelt Gladiator challenge as a thank you to Shared Lives carers and the people they support, while also hosting drop-in events for professionals.

Westmorland and Furness Shared Lives hosted a series of open sessions across the region and created a fantastic video featuring staff, Shared Lives carers and people supported using a megaphone to ‘shout about Shared Lives’ from locations across the region.

Many schemes also took part in our Tell One Person challenge, encouraging people to introduce someone new to Shared Lives and help spread awareness locally.

Several schemes used the week to meet with councillors, MPs, MSPs, MSs, MLAs, commissioners and local partners to talk about the impact of Shared Lives in their area, including a special message from Cumberland Council Leader Mark Fryer encouraging people to shout about Shared Lives.

As part of the week, Shared Lives Plus hosted a national online webinar bringing together Shared Lives carers, schemes, professionals and people supported.

Hosted by Dr Krish Kandiah OBE, (pictured right) the webinar gave people the opportunity to learn more about Shared Lives directly from those with lived experience.

John, Jean and Joe (pictured left) shared their experiences of taking part in the Live More pilot in Greater Manchester, while Shared Lives Ambassadors Jen and Katie spoke about the difference Shared Lives has made in their lives.

More than 100 people attended, with overwhelmingly positive feedback including:

“Thank you – inspirational.”
“Great information and just what Shared Lives can do to change lives.”
“So great to hear all the positivity.”
“Very informative, especially the comparison with fostering. It will help us make a good, informed decision.”

A recording of the webinar will be available on our website very soon.

To everyone who hosted an event, shared a story, posted on social media, attended the webinar, or simply told one person about Shared Lives – thank you.

Every conversation helped more people understand what Shared Lives can make possible.

Shared Lives Week 2026 may be over, but the challenge remains the same: tell one person about Shared Lives. Because if more people knew about Shared Lives, more lives could change.

Thank you for helping us shout about Shared Lives. Here’s to Shared Lives Week 2027!