Shared Lives is a service for those that need support in living life to the full, right here in the town they know and love. We're proud to deliver this service in Oldham.
We’re lucky to have a network of Shared Lives carers who give different levels of support, depending on the needs of the people they’re matched with. Some carers just give a few hours a week and might help someone who’s already fairly independent to attend a weekly activity, appointment or event.
Others, like Cliffette, open up their home and share their life with those they’ve chosen to support. A big responsibility but with incredible outcomes for everyone involved.
Cliffette, over to you…
“I’ve been part of the Shared Lives family here in Oldham for nearly 20 years. In fact, I remember clearly getting a phone call from Karen (who still works for the Shared Lives team now!) to tell me I’d passed my training! I was over the moon after weeks of studying!
When I first started, I was supporting people short-term and doing just a few hours a week really. As I got to know the service and the people in it, I knew I wanted to become more involved. One of the people, Stephen, who I’d supported with weekly activities ended up needing a long-term carer – to cut a long story short we were both delighted when we were able to be matched together and Stephen’s lived with me and had my support for 16 years.
Not long after he was joined by Trevor and then more recently Hillary and we all live very happily together - whilst having quite a number of independent activities going on through the week too.”
Like Cliffette, those others mentioned above are from Oldham and have plenty of family still living in the town that they keep in regular contact with. Family members are happy that there is a service available that means very full lives are lived, as independently as possible, but with the required support. Their loved ones are active, fulfilled, happy, safe and importantly, close-by.
Stephen wanted to let us know what he’d been up to this week…
“I regularly go to watch the cricket which I love. And go indoor bowling every week too. I also visit friends outside of Oldham from Huddersfield, Bury and Wigan! I like to keep myself busy.”
Stephen talks with pride about being active. And active is something he’d struggle to be without the support of a carer. Not that Cliffette goes with him to every engagement, but frequently she does and if not, she helps with the arranging of times, dates, travel, etc, making sure Stephen’s safety is accounted for.
Similarly, Trevor has a number of engagements through the week and weekend…
“On Sunday I go to church just down the road. I go there on Tuesday and Thursday too to help out with groups they run. On Mondays I go to Grassroots [one of the MioCare Group’s Wellbeing Service sites] and I’m busy on Wednesdays too when I visit a social club for people with Learning Difficulties. Oh, I nearly forgot – on Fridays I sometimes go to OPAL (Oldham Personal Advocacy Ltd) and on Saturday I go to AJ’s in Moston. That’s fun as we get to dance and sing – we put on an annual Christmas show.”
Hillary jumps in at this point…
“Have you heard of AJ’s? It’s brilliant! I go there as well and it’s amazing, isn’t it Trevor?”
Hillary, who's support needs are a little greater than that of her housemates, tells us “I love my days out with Cliffette at the park or the garden centre too – we like spending time outside together!”.
And it’s outside in the garden where we had this chat on a sunny day in Failsworth. Cliffette says that being in a Shared Lives match (or in her case, three!) is not without its difficulties. Being a carer is a busy role and she works hard. There is the occasional falling out between Trevor and Hillary “which is always fixed with a chat over a cup of tea” but in what family is that not the case? And whilst these long-term relationships now feel very natural, steady and strong, the Shared Lives staff team at the MioCare Group are regularly in touch to review all the service’s matches, taking in feedback from all the individuals involved.
Hillary sums it up beautifully, wearing a big smile and Cliffette’s sunglasses saying “I couldn’t be happier!”.
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Stephen, Trevor and Hillary have varying support needs due to the nature of their learning disabilities and mental health. It’s been brilliant to see Cliffette support them in living life to the full. We’ve got countless stories from carers who can testify to how much their own lives have been enriched as they’ve supported others.
Could you be a long-term Shared Lives Carer in your hometown of Oldham? Are you over 18 years of age and able to work with vulnerable people? Do you have a spare room in your home? If so, we want to hear from you! We are seeking people with a strong value base and who are keen to make a big difference to someone in their community.
An allowance is given to carers to help them offer this support. Carers also receive paid respite and are eligible for a discount scheme. The Shared Lives team are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year to support this network of incredibly special people.
To register your interest or to find out more, contact the team...
- Call: 0161 770 8777
- Email: SharedLivesTeam@oldham.gov.uk
#MadeInOldham
