CARERS across Surrey came together this week to highlight the fourth annual Shared Lives Week, a UK wide event to celebrate and promote the innovative and growing “Shared Lives” model of care.

Shared Lives carers open their home, family and community life to an adult or 16/17 year old who needs care or support to help them live well. Schemes individually match trained and approved Shared Lives carers with people who need their support.

This approach is now one of the fastest growing forms of social care, with an additional 1,300 people last year choosing Shared Lives as a unique way to feel independent, but not alone.

In the Surrey area, 44 people are supported by 46 Shared Lives carers. There is a Shared Lives scheme in almost every area of the UK, with more than 12,000 people being supported in Shared Lives arrangements by 9,000 Shared Lives carers on either a long or a short term basis.

Michelle Williams, Shared Lives manager for Surrey said: “Our focus for Shared Lives Week is to try and raise the profile of this fantastic service within the community and to recruit new Shared Lives carers to join our scheme here in Surrey.”

Alex Fox, chief executive of Shared Lives Plus added: “It’s great to see Shared Lives in Surrey playing such an active role in supporting our national Shared Lives week, highlighting the benefits of the approach and encouraging more people to consider becoming Shared Lives carers or choosing Shared Lives as a way of supporting them to lead a good life in a good place.

“Our aim is to double in size nationally over five years – and events like this here in Surrey are vital in helping us hit that target.”

Andrew Reed, is a young man in his early 20s with a learning disability, who has been supported by the Shared Lives scheme. Before living with Shared Live carers Nanda and Padma Veerpen, Andrew would often find himself in trouble due to the company he kept.

Andrew moved in with Nanda and Padma two years ago, which enabled him to be in a safe and supportive home environment. Since living with Nanda and Padma, Andrew has got himself a part time job working for a high street retailer, and enjoys leisure activities such as going to the gym and bowling.

Speaking of his time involved with the shared lives scheme, Andrew said: “Nanda and Padma have been a great support to me, and they are like my second family. Since living with them my independence and confidence in myself has improved a lot.”

The foundation of the success of Shared Lives is the “Match”. This process – unique to Shared Lives – involves meeting up, perhaps for a cup of tea or a meal and getting to know each other before agreeing to move in to Shared Lives. This way, people can discover if they share common interests or hobbies, meaning they have a basis for a successful partnership.

For more information visit the website www.surr

eychoices.com/shared-lives.