Shared Lives South West Funding and Benefits Team Leader Donna Bounden has now celebrated her 20th anniversary with the organisation.

She’s seen the charity grow from very humble beginnings and been part of it growing and evolving, with it now operating across three counties and five local authorities.

“I’ve had the opportunity to lead the funding and benefits team, consisting of myself and three colleagues,” said Donna.

“Together, we’ve built an in-house welfare benefits service, the only one of its kind within the Shared Lives sector nationally.”

Financial help

Donna’s role is focused on ensuring that the people Shared Lives South West supports receive the financial help they’re entitled to, giving them the independence to live life on their own terms.

“Over the years, we’ve worked to improve the accuracy and speed of benefit claims, often achieving better results than local authority teams, while always putting the needs of individuals first,” she said proudly.

“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how financial security can empower people to pursue their goals, whether that’s moving towards independent living or simply being able to enjoy life’s opportunities.”

Funding and benefits service

During her time at Shared Lives South West, she’s led the development of an in-house funding and benefits service. This service helps people gain financial independence by maximising their benefits, sometimes securing back payments of over £10,000.

“What we do is largely unseen. However it’s vital in giving people the financial freedom to pursue meaningful activities, such as holidays, work opportunities, or simply planning their lives with greater confidence,” she said.

“Our approach is person-centred. This means we focus on the individual’s needs, offering support with benefit applications, appeals, and ongoing reviews. What makes me proud is knowing we’ve made a real difference, not just for the people we support but also by easing pressure on local councils, who benefit from increased contributions towards care.”

Key achievements have included supporting financial understanding in employment, where Donna has guided numerous individuals through the complexities of managing their benefits as they enter employment.

“This personalised support helps them transition into work while maintaining their entitlements, giving them the confidence to take on new challenges,” she said.

Donna has also helped people with budgeting for when they can move on to independent living.

“This equips them with the skills and knowledge to manage their own finances. It can also foster long-term independence,” she said.

Read more Shared Lives South West news here.