News

Abby and Shared Lives South West Carer Mel at Christmas

Mum Abby gets the best Christmas present she could ever wish for

There’s no doubt about it, 2020 has been a challenge and a tough year, but Mum Abby has the best Christmas wish she could ever hope for. Abby, who uses our services and lives with SLSW Carer Melanie Thomas in Cornwall, has seen the child protection order imposed when her daughter Isabella was born removed….

New Shared Lives Coordinator Sharon Button

Shared Lives Coordinator Sharon is welcomed to the Somerset team

In the last month we’ve welcomed new Shared Lives Coordinator Sharon Button who will be based in the Somerset Team. We catch up with Sharon to find out more about her…   What were you doing before working at SLSW? Most of my working career has been in the health and social care sector. I…

White with Dots and Bee Get Well Soon Card 2 - Shared Lives South West celebrates winning Scheme Innovation Award

Shared Lives South West celebrates winning Scheme Innovation Award

.Shared Lives South West is celebrating winning a national award for its innovative work at the Shared Lives Plus Awards. It took home the Sheme Innovation Award at the online ceremony, which celebrated the Shared Living sector. The organisation, which provides care and support to people with additional needs, is one of 150 Shared Lives…

Joy and Bou karen web - SLSW Carers Joy and Bou set to retire after more than 40 years in the sector

SLSW Carers Joy and Bou set to retire after more than 40 years in the sector

After working more than 42 years in the care sector, Joy and Bou Roodenburg are finally retiring and timing time out for themselves. The couple, who live at Torpoint, currently support Karen and have done so for the last ten years as Shared Lives South West Carers. They have known her for 30 years and…

Penny Smith, admin at Shared Lives South West

We welcome Penny to the SLSW team

We have a new team member at Shared Lives South West. Penny Smith has joined our admin team and will be based in our Somerset office in Ilminster. Here we find out a little bit about Penny… Where do you live? I live in Ilminster but originally I grew up in Seaton, Devon and spent…

vor and Peter finalist in Dimension Learning leaders list with certificates

Artists Ivor and Peter finalists in Coronavirus Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List

Ivor and Peter , who use SLSW services, are celebrating being national finalists in the Coronavirus Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List which is in partnership with Dimensions. Both Ivor and Peter, who are supported by SLSW Carers Rachel and Fran Bunce in Somerset, unearthed their artistic skills during lockdown. They have been painting ever…

SLSW Carer Nicola with Rev Philip Conway outside the church

SLSW Carer Nicola provides a ‘place of safety’ to heal and church community offers a warm welcome

Thanks to the support of her Shared Lives South West Carer, her faith, local church and feeling part of the community, *Vanessa (*name changed to protect the person’s identity) is now ready to move on and take the next step in her life. Vanessa moved in with SLSW Carer Nicola a year ago and needed…

Shared Lives South West have renewed its mindful employer charter

Shared Lives South West renews Mindful Employer Charter

Shared Lives South West has renewed its Mindful Employer Charter. It’s a UK wide initiative run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust. It provides employers with easy access to professional workplace mental health training, information and advice. The goal is to help empower organisations to take a lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of staff. mindful…

Ian has moved in with Karen following Covid-19 restrictions softening

Ian finally moves in after Covid-19 hold up

Covid-19 may have put a halt to a lot of things in society, but thanks to careful planning and the Government softening restrictions, it meant Ian could still move into his new Shared Lives South West household this month. Ian has moved from a Mencap home into a SLSW household and is being supported by…

Chrissy Goodridge, Shared Lives Coordinator at Shared Lives South West

Welcome to new Shared Lives Coordinator Chrissy in Somerset

Shared Lives South West has welcomed new Shared Lives Coordinator Chrissy Goodridge to the team. She will be based in Somerset covering Anne-Marie Carmichael’s role while she is on maternity leave. Chrissy started at SLSW earlier this month and has a wealth of experience in the care sector. We caught up with her and welcomed…