Shared Lives Wiltshire is celebrating Shared Lives Week and asking could this be for you?

June 24 to 28, is national Shared Lives Carers Week and Wiltshire Council is hoping to encourage more people to take on this role.

Rewarding', 'helping people to reach their potential' and being 'part of the family.'

Those are some of the ways Wiltshire people describe being a Shared Lives Carer and opening their homes to those needing help and support.

Wiltshire Council's Shared Lives Carers help people live as part of a family, within a carers home, where they receive the support that they need. The carers offer care or support to men and women over 18 to enable them to live independently alongside other people in a family-like setting.

The scheme helps adults with learning difficulties, mental or physical health needs, who, for a variety of reasons, cannot manage to live without support, providing a warm welcoming home where they can thrive. They have a wide range of abilities and support needs. Some are independent and only need guidance, reminders or explanation, others need assistance with most day-to-day tasks.

The arrangements are normally long term but there are also opportunities for short-term - as a break for other carers or as somewhere to live for a few weeks. Customers and carers are matched in terms of interests and location so that living together is an enjoyable, fulfilling, and valuable experience for all.

Carers receive up to £668 per customer per week and carers can have up to three people living with them.

Kathy West, along with her husband Steve have been Shared Lives Carers for several years, they have three young people living with them. She said: "Shared Lives is really rewarding; it's satisfying and if you have a spare room, you should consider speaking to other Shared Lives Carers and find out what it's all about.

I'm passionate about meeting their individual needs and ensuring they do their best just like anyone would do for their own child. Shared Lives is a really good scheme, it enables people who are vulnerable to remain living with a family and you can help them reach their potential. You get to share your life with other people who have a different outlook on life. The best thing about being a Shared Lives Carer is that you are providing the best quality support they can have and sharing the ups and downs with them. Sorting out their problems such as benefits, health issues and lessening their anxieties.

Carolyn and Jeremy Venton have been Shared Lives Carers for more than 20 years. Carolyn explained: I can't imagine not sharing our house with someone else. When we started, we had three young children and Shared Lives fitted in with our family life, and it still works now that we have grandchildren. The customers living with us are a part of our family and our children have grown up with them.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Wiltshire Council Leader said: I want to thank all our Shared Lives Carers for the amazing work they do. Shared Lives Week presents a great opportunity to celebrate the real difference this wonderful service makes to people's lives, which enables vulnerable adults to live as part of a family and reach their full potential.

Being a Shared Lives Carer is a really flexible role and you don't need qualifications to become a carer, just a wide range of skills and life experience. If you're willing to share your life with others and provide care and support, we'd love to tell you more. The Shared Lives Team will be in The Shires in Trowbridge on Wednesday 26 June between 9am and 1pm, so please come and talk to them. Or join our online drop-in where you can learn more about what carers do and talk to existing carers about their experience.

Find out about Shared Lives, join the online drop-in (opens new window) on Thursday 11 July at 6pm.

More information about Shared Lives, what they do and how to become one, can be found on on our website or email sharedlives@wiltshire.gov.uk. (opens new window) or call 01380 826451.