After almost 20 years Shared Lives Carers Rick and Debbie Smith are set to retire. The couple, who live in Torbay, were actually among the first carers to go through the Shared Lives South West (then SWAPS South West Adult Placement) assessment when the organisation was formed two decades ago. In recent years, both have…

Shared Lives South West is celebrating its 20th anniversary and over the years the organisation has transformed dramatically. But one thing that hasn’t changed are three staff who joined the charity in its very early stages. Funding and Benefits Team Leader Donna Bounden joined Shared Lives South West, then called SWAPS (Shared Lives Adult Placement…

With the right support Luke has blossomed living with his Shared Lives Carers Julie and Tommy Hughes in Paignton. He moved in a year ago and has slowly worked on his mental health and is thriving. “Moving in here is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he said. He’s now working at…

Josh is celebrating writing a fantasy book Twisted Valley, which is now available on Amazon. It took months to come to fruition and he is thrilled it can now be downloaded or printed. “I used to write books as a child called the Sacred Oak, which were centred around talking animals in a forest and…

  Representatives from Shared Lives were invited to Downing Street last week. Shared Lives South West CEO Dominic Spayne and Team Leader Edward Bunce Phillips joined a number of other Shared Lives schemes along with a range of delegates from across social care, to attend a reception held by Helen Whately, Minister of State in…

  Excitement is building in one Shared Lives South West household as wedding preparations are well and truly underway and the countdown to the big day is on! Ivor who uses SLSW services and lives with Shared Lives Carers Rachel and Fran Bunce, is marrying Carol, who is also part of the household and is…

Shared Lives South West has launched its first ever TV advert in the hope of recruiting new carers and spreading the word about the services it offers. It features SLSW Carer Lisa Dougal and Charlene, who she supports, and was filmed by Fork The Waffle in Exmouth. Shared Lives South West has started a recruitment…

Dominic Myers has joined the Shared Lives South West Board of Trustees. Here we find out more about him, his background and why he decided to become a trustee with SLSW… Why did you decide to become a trustee with SLSW?  I returned to the UK last year after living in the Middle East for…

Simon Doughty has joined the Shared Lives South West team in the Devon office as a Finance Assistant. Here we chat to him about how he is settling in…   How are you finding your new role  as Finance Assistnat at SLSW? I’ve found it really nice and friendly. People have introduced themselves and I…