Avalon Group joins carers, people we support and partners from across the region to celebrate the impact of Shared Lives

On Wednesday 9 September 2026, colleagues, Shared Lives carers and people with lived experience from across South Yorkshire came together at the New York Stadium in Rotherham for a special event celebrating the achievements and impact of the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) Project.

The project, which has supported the development of Shared Lives across the region since 2024, brought together representatives from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Sheffield City Council to reflect on the progress made and, most importantly, the difference Shared Lives is making in people’s lives.

The Avalon Group was proud to be part of the event, with our CEO, Emma Williams, and Director of Services and Development, Kelly Windham, attending alongside members of our Shared Lives carer team and the people they support from our Doncaster service.

Putting people’s experiences at the heart of the conversation

While the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress of the ARF Project, it was the personal stories shared throughout the day that really brought the impact of Shared Lives to life.

Spencer, who has been living in a Shared Lives arrangement in Doncaster since 2025, attended the event, and reflected on both her experience with Shared Lives:

“It’s been brilliant! For the first time in my life, I actually feel like I’ve been listened to, and included in decision making. Avalon and my carer have increased my confidence and independence, meaning I can go into the community and do things more independently.”

On the event in Rotherham, Spencer said:

“I loved it. It was great to meet people from all the different areas, and I made some good friends. I was happy to learn about how the service is growing, knowing it can make a difference in a way has been for me; it can be life changing!”

Spencer was also showcasing her amazing artwork, which she creates using apps that explain shapes and colours, about which she said:

“It was the first time I’ve shown my drawings to that many people, it was great and gave me a lot of confidence!”

People with lived experience of Shared Lives spoke openly about their experiences, alongside Shared Lives carers who shared their own perspectives on the relationships they have developed and the difference they are able to make.

These stories highlighted something at the very heart of the Shared Lives model: good support is about much more than providing care, it is about relationships, belonging, choice and helping people to live the lives they want.

At Avalon, our Shared Lives carers open their homes to provide personalised support to adults who may need additional support, creating a safe and welcoming environment where people can develop their independence, build relationships and become part of everyday family and community life.

For our Doncaster team, being able to attend alongside the people we support and our Shared Lives carers made the event particularly meaningful.

“It was wonderful to spend the day celebrating Shared Lives alongside the people who make the service what it is,” said Emma Williams, CEO of The Avalon Group. “Hearing directly from people with lived experience and from Shared Lives carers was a powerful reminder of the difference that the right relationships and the right support can make. At Avalon, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live their best life experience, and Shared Lives is a fantastic example of that in action.”

Celebrating carers and the relationships they build

Shared Lives carers play a unique and incredibly important role. By welcoming someone into their home and their everyday life, they provide support in a way that feels personal, natural and rooted in the community.

For many people, that can mean having greater opportunities to try new things, develop skills, build confidence and make choices about how they want to spend their time.

It can also mean something as simple, but as important, as having a place where you feel you belong.

The event was an opportunity to recognise the commitment of Shared Lives carers across South Yorkshire and to celebrate the contribution they make every day. It was also a chance for carers to connect with one another, share experiences and reflect on the wider development of the service.

Kelly Windham, Director of Services and Development at Avalon, said:

“Shared Lives is about creating meaningful connections and supporting people to be part of ordinary family and community life. The stories we heard at the event demonstrated just how transformative those relationships can be. It was fantastic to see carers, people we support and organisations from across South Yorkshire coming together to celebrate what has been achieved, while also looking ahead to how we can continue to strengthen and grow Shared Lives.”

Looking to the future

The ARF Project has provided an important opportunity for local authorities, providers, carers and people with lived experience to work together to develop and strengthen Shared Lives across South Yorkshire.

For Avalon, the event also provided an opportunity to reflect on our own commitment to Shared Lives in Doncaster and the role we can play in supporting more people to experience the benefits of this unique approach.

Our Shared Lives service is built around the belief that people should have choice and control over their lives, with support that is tailored around them as an individual.

Whether someone needs longer-term support, a short-term arrangement or another form of personalised support, Shared Lives can offer an alternative to more traditional models of care. Avalon’s wider services are similarly focused on helping people to achieve their goals, develop independence and make meaningful connections within their communities.

The event in Rotherham was therefore much more than a celebration of a project. It was a celebration of the people, relationships and communities that make Shared Lives possible, and a reminder of why this approach matters.

We were incredibly proud to attend with our Doncaster Shared Lives team and the people we support, and to be part of a wider South Yorkshire community committed to developing support that puts people first.

Find out more about Shared Lives

Interested in finding out more about Shared Lives, whether you’re looking for support or considering becoming a Shared Lives carer?

Click the link below to find out more, or reach out to use directly at enquire@avalongroup.org.uk

Find out more about Shared Lives with Avalon Group