Shared Lives featured on ITV News Wales during Shared Lives Week

The report featured Shared Lives carer Bernie and Rosie, who is supported through the Vale of Glamorgan Shared Lives scheme and regularly stays with Bernie for short breaks.

Bernie explained how Shared Lives respite support benefits both family carers and the people they support.

“We provide respite care so that other carers and their families can actually take a break, have a break or a holiday. The individuals that we look after can have a break too, and they can have a holiday.”

The report also highlighted the scale of Shared Lives in the area, with 85 Shared Lives carers supporting people through both long-term arrangements and short breaks across the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend.

Speaking in the report, Paul Marchant from the scheme explained how people can become Shared Lives carers.

“Anyone could become a carer. There’s no qualifications. It’s anybody who shares the same values, maybe they’ve got the right compassion and commitment to become a carer, and they’ve got their own home and a spare room in their house as well.”

The feature also highlighted the training, safeguarding checks and ongoing support provided to Shared Lives households by local schemes.

The report concluded by describing Shared Lives as “not just somewhere to stay. It’s an opportunity to create communities, build relationships and allow individuals to grow.”

Watch the full ITV News Wales report: Host families part of new scheme to support people needing social care – Latest From ITV News

Shared Lives also featured on ITV Wales’ flagship current affairs programme, Sharp End, where politicians from across the political spectrum highlighted it as an important part of the future of social care in Wales, particularly in supporting people living with dementia and their families.

Presented by Andrea Byrne, the programme explored the pressures facing social care in Wales and the need for more preventative approaches.

Watch the clip:

The discussion comes as we explore opportunities to develop Live More with Shared Lives in Wales, building on the work pioneered in Greater Manchester. The programme supports people living with dementia and their families by helping people stay connected, active and independent for longer.

Find out more about Live More: Live More: growing Shared Lives for people living with dementia and their families

Find out more about our incredible community of Shared Lives carers and schemes around the UK: Shared Lives Week 2026: Thank you for shouting about Shared Lives!

Find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer: startyoursharedlife.today