What the service users say

“It’s alright living here. I like my carer’s cooking and my bedroom. I like to watch horror films in my bedroom. The carer’s husband and son are my friends – but we like different football teams.”

“The carer helps with the laundry and reminds me to go to places. I went on holiday last year. I think it’s good to live with a family. I’ve got a roof over my head, it’s warm and I’m safe.”

“I like it here. She’s very good to me”.

“I like the life I’m living (with the carer). I used to live in a council flat but it’s better with the carer’s family”

“I like my carer. I like the food she cooks, especially chicken, rice and peas. She helps me to go clothes shopping, and to keep in touch with my brother and my friends”.

“I’ve been living with this family for a long time, I can’t remember how long, but I’m happy here”

Shared lives service user cookbook

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, when many of the normal activities were not available, the shared lives scheme started to work digitally with carers and people living in the scheme.

Two of the scheme’s participants, James and Graeme, took part in a virtual cooking session and afterwards challenged each other to a cook-off each week, the results were photographed by their carers, and eventually made into the shared lives cookbook to celebrate their achievements.

The cookbook offers easy to follow recipes and space in the back for people to add in their own creations.