Shared Lives provides transitional and long-term placements to people who need care and support due to their disability or other support need.

Our Shared Lives carers provide a safe, secure, and stimulating family environment to help each individual to develop a sense of belonging within their community. Every placement is unique, and the support provided is tailored to meet the individual needs of the person, whilst creating a natural and supportive family environment.

Our provision in Ayrshire is registered with the Care Inspectorate as a Shared Lives Scheme, and Cornerstone is an active member of Shared Lives Plus.

In 2019, we hosted a visit from Alex Fox OBE who is the CEO of Shared Lives Plus in the UK. Alex visited our team and had lunch with some of the people we support at the New Beginnings Café in Irvine. He was interested in our strategy, Local Cornerstone, and how, as a model, it might apply to other Shared Lives programmes across the country.

Kim (pictured) was one of the people who met Alex on his visit and has been supported by Shared Lives for 12 years. Kim said, “I live with my carer Bill in Paisley. Bill is always a great support for me, as I can go to him when I need help with anything. Sometimes we go shopping together, and he always drops me off and picks me up when I go to get my hair done every few weeks. Bill and I also enjoy going on holiday together. Recently we went to Ireland and stayed in a lovely place called Letterkenny.

“I’d be lost without Bill and his family. They look after me in a way that makes me feel like a member of their own family.”