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an ordinary life
a shared road to an ordinary life

Far from the often dull safety of mainstream services, Shared Lives offers a radical approach to
achieving a normal life. anna Mcewen explains how it allows people to overcome limited
expectations and hears about some unexpected achievements

he barriers many disabled people need it that I couldn’t get before. I can do
face to having an ordinary life are more things for myself now and that
tvaried and complex. They run from makes me happy.”
struggles to simply get up and dressed Rosborough wanted to be more
and needing support to get out of the independent and live a life like most
house to the attitudes of others and people but, having been in residential
finding and holding down a job. care for most of his adult life, he sadly
Many factors and circumstances that lacked the experience of forming and
constrain the ability to live well are deeply maintaining relationships.
embedded in the culture and structures of “Before Shared Lives, I didn’t have many
our institutional forms of public services friends, but now I do,” he says.
that seek to offer a risk-free but sterile life. Rosborough met Cooke – a Shared Lives
One way of offering an ordinary life in carer – in 2010. Supported by this
the community is through Shared Lives. relationship, he was able to experience
Disabled people choose a carer approved and contribute to the many daily routines
by Shared Lives; the person regularly of life in a community.
visits the carer or moves in with them His life expanded: his skills and
long term as part of their household. experience grew to the extent that, in
While this offers a high degree of support, Going out: James Rosborough and Andy Cooke 2015, he realised his dream and moved
it can, for some, lead to greater into his own house. He and Cooke chose a
independence. excellent medical support, and help in house very close to where Cooke and his
managing his epilepsy was crucial to his family live so he can receive support when
Stories from family life physical wellbeing. However, there were he needs it and remain fully connected to
Here, two people with learning difficulties aspects of his life that he had not been them. He has a key to the family house
and physical impairments talk about living able to explore or develop. and can spend as much time there as he
with their Shared Lives carers, what they He says: “I was very frustrated at not wants; there is a room for him should he
expected and how life has turned out. being able to do my own thing, not go out need it.
One recurring theme that arises from when I wanted. I didn’t have the “I like having my own house but can
talking to James Rosborough and Nick independence or the freedom that always go to Andy’s house when I want
Sayers and their carers Andy Cooke, Steve I wanted.” to. I have so much more freedom now,”
morris and Tina Hayward is expectations Rosborough had no experience of he says.
– how they can hold us back, and how managing the daily tasks and chores of
they can be addressed to live a healthy living in a family home, such as cooking, From walking to martial arts
and happier life. cleaning and going shopping. These were Rosborough is more connected to his local
things he actively wanted to do and were community and has become more active.
James rosborough: family and friends part of his wish to live independently. “I have fewer seizures and my health
Rosborough is 47 years old and has However, he never expected he would has improved,” he says. “I’m more active, I
epilepsy and a learning disability. He had have the opportunity for this.
lived in specialist residential centres for “I never thought I’d be able to have my
people with epilepsy all his life until he own house or do the things I wanted to,”
came to Shared Lives in 2010. He received he says. “Now I can get the help when I

Gaining a family life: how it works

hared lives allows a young person in Shared Lives are living with their carer
or adult who needs extra support as part of a supportive household; half
Sto live well, taking part in family visit their carer for day support or
and community life. overnight breaks.
The person moves in with or regularly There are more than 10,000 Shared
visits an approved Shared Lives carer, Lives carers in the UK, recruited, trained
after they have been matched for and approved by 153 local schemes,
compatibility. which are regulated by each home
Half of the 14,000 people taking part nation’s care inspectors. NIck Sayers and carer Steve Morris meet
Iain Duncan Smith MP
10 Vol 31 No 4 | Summer 2018 community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk