We are a growing Shared Lives Scheme building an innovative service across Dudley and Wolverhampton
01/09/2025
📚✨ September is here — the smell of fresh notebooks, packed lunches, and the hum of school buses remind us that routines are returning and new chapters are beginning. As children head back to school and homes settle into rhythm again, it’s also a moment to reflect: What could your new beginning look like?
💛 If you’ve ever thought about making a difference from the comfort of your own home, becoming a Shared Lives carer might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. It’s a chance to open your door — and your heart — to someone who needs support, companionship, and a place to belong.
Whether you're an empty nester, a natural nurturer, or simply someone with room in your life for something meaningful, this September could be the start of something truly special.
🌟 Learn more about how you can become a Shared Lives carer and change a life — including your own: https://youtu.be/93rT02Y1UXs
Thinking about becoming a Shared Lives carer? In this video, we explore what the role involves, who it’s for, and how it can change lives – including yours.S...
21/08/2025
🤝 A Community That Cares, Together 💬✨
Being a Shared Lives carer means never going it alone. You’re part of a supportive community that shows up — not just for reviews and meetings, but for connection, and shared moments.
From casual coffee catch-ups ☕ to festive social events 🎉, our carers come together to swap stories, share advice, and simply enjoy each other’s company. These gatherings are more than just support — they’re friendships in the making.
Whether you're new to Shared Lives or have years of experience, you’ll always have people beside you who understand and appreciate what you do.
19/08/2025
We care about getting it right, and that’s why we carefully match each individual with a carer who shares similar interests, values, lifestyles — and even sense of humour! 😄
This thoughtful process creates bonds that go far beyond care: it builds genuine relationships rooted in trust, mutual respect, and joy.
Every match is a step toward shared experiences and lasting friendships. Because when people truly click, amazing things happen. ❤️
16/08/2025
💼 Looking for a fresh start? Shared Lives is hiring!
If you're someone who cares deeply about people and wants to make a real difference, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for. Support someone to thrive in a family home — it’s not just work, it’s life-changing.
At Shared Lives, we believe in celebrating life together. It’s more than just providing care — it’s about building real relationships, sharing everyday moments, and being part of the highs and the milestones.
Last month, Ram and his wonderful Shared Lives family were all smiles as they celebrated a beautiful family wedding. The joy, the laughter, the dancing — everyone came together not just as attendees, but as family. ❤️
These photos remind us what Shared Lives is all about: belonging, connection, and the freedom to be part of each other’s worlds in meaningful ways.
11/08/2025
💫 Make a Difference. Feel Supported. Belong. 💫
Become a Shared Lives carer with Camphill Village Trust and discover a truly rewarding way to change lives—starting with your own.
🌱 Why Join Our Shared Lives Community?
🤝 Belong to a wider support network: You're never alone. We offer training, ongoing support, and a community that truly cares.
❤️ Make a meaningful difference: Help someone live life to the full, while sharing your home and your heart.
💷 Earn a weekly allowance with tax relief: Carers receive a generous allowance that’s structured to be tax-efficient.
✨ No previous care experience needed—just kindness, a spare room, and a desire to make life better.
08/08/2025
What is Shared Lives? WATCH OUR VIDEO to find out more...
06/08/2025
🌟 Become a Shared Lives Carer – Make a Difference, Right From Home! 🌟
Are you based in Wordsley, Kingswinford, or Wollaston and looking to start a rewarding new journey? Join our amazing network of Shared Lives carers—ordinary people offering extraordinary support by welcoming someone with care needs into their home and life.
Whether you have spare time, a spare room, or simply a big heart—Shared Lives could be your perfect fit. We offer full training, ongoing support, and payments for your time and commitment.
Meet Meg—full of creativity, talent, and heart—getting ready to dazzle in a recent production of Singing in the Rain! ☔
Through the Shared Lives approach, Meg isn't just living—she's thriving. She's part of a supportive home environment where friendship, independence, and opportunity bloom every day. Whether it's pursuing passions, building skills, or starring in a local performance, Shared Lives empowers people to lead lives rich with purpose and connection.
Here's to dancing through puddles and singing through life, together. 🩰💫
02/08/2025
🏡 Do you have a spare room?
💙 Do you want to make a real difference to someone’s life?
Become a Shared Lives Carer — a fulfilling role where you welcome an adult with support needs into your home and help them build confidence and independence. It’s like fostering, but for adults.
We’re looking for people who are:
✨ Compassionate, empathetic, and patient
✨ Able to offer a welcoming home environment
✨ Willing to learn — full training and support provided
You don’t need formal care experience — just the heart to help and a spare bedroom.
Earn a weekly allowance, with tax relief, working from home and changing lives.
Behind every incredible Shared Lives carer is our dedicated support team cheering them on every step of the way.
From regular check-ins to 24/7 advice, personalised guidance, and practical resources—we’re here to ensure our carers feel confident, supported and truly valued.
Whether it’s navigating new arrangements, connecting with local networks, or just having someone to talk to—we’ve got their back. Because when carers thrive, so do the people they support.
📞 Thinking of becoming a Shared Lives carer? Let’s chat.
30/07/2025
Happy International Friendship Day! 💛
At Camphill Village Trust, our communities, where we support adults with learning disabilities to live a life of opportunity, are built on connection, meaningful relationships and mutual support.
Today, on International Friendship Day, we’re proud to celebrate the wonderful friendships that thrive across our communities.
Friendships like these are a beautiful part of life in our communities 💖
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives:
As a starting point, Shared Lives can be described as a little bit like ‘foster care for adults who have additional and/or complex needs’…. but it’s so much more than that, as we enable the person to make their own choices in life, take control and maximise their independence. The person is carefully matched to stay with specially trained Shared Lives Carers who provide individual support to develop practical skills, encourage new social networks, build self-esteem and lead the same ordinary life at the heart of the community just like you and me. When someone comes to stay with the Shared Lives Carer(s) on either a Live-In, Short-Break or Day-Care basis, we call this an ‘Arrangement’. There is a maximum of up to three people living/staying within a household at any one time.
In Shared Lives, the goal is for everyone to feel a sense of belonging, have opportunity to be valued as part of family life and be actively involved with the local community. We support anybody from the age of 18 years old, though we will start preparatory work with young adults who are making the transition to Adult Services. Whilst Shared Lives is traditionally a service for people with learning disabilities, the team have experience of setting up Arrangements for people with mental ill health, early-on-set dementia, hospital discharges, older people, physical disabilities, people on the Autistic Spectrum and those with other complex support needs.
Currently, there are approximately 12,000 adults being supported by around 9,000 Carers in Shared Lives Arrangements across England and the sector has grown by 30% over the last few years. When living in a Shared Lives Arrangement, people are known to lead longer, healthier and happier lives, which provides a real alternative to more traditional settings such as hospital or residential care. 96% of all Shared Lives Schemes inspected by the Care Quality Commission are rated as Good or Outstanding and the model has the lowest amount of Safeguarding incidents in comparison to all other forms of Adult Social Care. On average, placing someone in a Shared Lives Arrangement, can save Local Authorities/NHS up to £26K annually, in comparison to other forms of long-term care.
To become a Shared Lives Carer, you don’t need any qualifications or experience of working in the care industry (though it can help), you just need the right values, dedication…and of course a spare room!!! You should be over 21 years of age, be able to read and write English and be committed to undertaking training and supervision for the continued development of your role. Shared Lives Carers are not paid by the hour, there is no ‘clocking on and clocking off’ when you are supporting someone from within your own home, but it’s a hugely rewarding role!!! Shared Lives Carers have self-employed status and qualify for tax relief from HMRC. You are paid according to the level of support you provide, which can sometimes include personal care, often between £370-£560 per week. You can even continue with your current employment and be a Shared Lives Carer at the same time.
You will need to complete an Enhanced DBS Check, self-declaration of health, as well as provide employer/personal references and relevant insurance cover. The Scheme worker will then write an assessment report that will include your life history, employment career and identify your values and motivations for wanting to become a Carer. We will provide you with a comprehensive Induction programme, where groups discussions will focus on roles and responsibilities, ethical dilemmas, safeguarding and communication skills, and medication administration etc. An Independent Panel made up of local people with an interest in Shared Lives will interview you and then approve your status as a Carer. From start to finish, the whole process takes between 3-6 months.
When we match someone to stay with a Shared Lives Carer, we sometimes have to consider, but not always necessarily so, cultural/religious differences, age, gender, complexity of support needs, daily routines, skillset and experience of the Shared Lives Carer, home location, pets, interests and extended family/social networks. You may have to wait a little while whilst we find the right match, as we are not in the business of putting square pegs in round holes. We are sure you appreciate that when we bring people together, we need to check everybody is happy first, as this underpins the longevity and success of each Arrangement. Being part of a wider charity means there is also opportunity to access all the activities at our Stourbridge Community as well as connect to an already established network of support.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Carer with CVT Shared Lives, then visit our website at: www.cvt.org.uk/sharedlives and give us a call on 01384 441 505 or follow us on twitter: @CVTSharedLives
