Celebrating Shared Lives on Intergenerational Day

At Dorset Council, we are proud to have joined communities worldwide in celebrating today's International Day of Solidarity between Generations (29 April). The annual event reminds us all of the profound value of fostering connections across age groups, bringing together the wisdom of experience and the energy of youth, to build a more compassionate, inclusive community.

As part of this, we asked Shared Lives carers Leah and Jerry Cooke to talk about their journey. Here is their story:

"My husband and I are Shared Lives carers. When people ask what this is, we always say it's opening our house to others that may need support to be independent of for people that want or maybe need to live in a family environment.

"We don't do anything exceptional but through daily life and living in a family environment people who stay with us pick up skills and confidence in things like cooking, shopping, socialising and managing money. It's great and rewarding; yes it has its moments but there is something so special about sharing your life and learning from each other.

"One of the best things about being a Shared Lives carer is seeing young people grow. Some of them arrive feeling unsure or nervous. Maybe they haven't had the chance to learn how to look after themselves. But with time, they gain confidence and new skills.

"For example, something that we all take for granted is our freedom to travel independently, but a young lad we supported had such a fear of travelling on a bus. Over time, by planning journeys, to test driving the route, to sitting on the bus with them, they were finally confident enough to travel alone to college every day. This has opened up their world now and is such a lovely thing to see.

"It feels amazing to see people do things they never thought they could, like cooking their own meals, cleaning or even getting a job. All things we do without thinking that can be a real challenge for some people.

"It's not one sided though; we learn so much from people who stay with us! Young people have new ideas, lots of energy and different ways of looking at the world. We have learnt so much about what they are interested in (sometimes obsessed with) that without shared lives we would never have been aware of (war games, anime, being a furry) to name a few.

"We have now a real appreciation for individualised support, recognising how different everyone is and therefore our range of communication and interpersonal skills has really grown. One of the funniest skills I have learnt is to have "broad shoulders" as we support people that really do "say it like it is" from how bad our DIY is to how we are loading the dishwasher all wrong."

The couple said anyone can be a Shared Lives carer if they care about others and want to help. Younger carers might bring energy and new ideas, while older carers have lots of life experience and patience. What matters most is being kind, understanding and being willing to share your home and your time.

"When we welcome people into our home, they get to know our neighbours, our extended family and friends and this reaffirms belonging and their contribution to society - our community learns acceptance, a greater understanding of neurodiversity and the abilities of others. We do feel we do our bit to dispel myths and breakdown stereotyping ad discrimination.

"When we support each other, we all grow together. The young adults we help today and can become more confident and independent, and one day may help others too! Being a Shared Lives carer has made our lives better. We have met wonderful people and seen young adults grow into independent people. If you have the space and time to invest in others you will be fully supported by a team of knowledgeable shared lives officers on hand to guide your journey!"

Councillor Steve Robinson, Dorset Council Adult Social Care lead, said: "Dorset is somewhere where community spirit can thrive and we know that solidarity strengthens the fabric of our society. When generations come together, they celebrate diversity, share stories and create new memories that reinforce the importance of caring for one another.

"This is what Shared Lives is all about. We want to continue to reaffirm our commitment to promoting inclusivity, respect and understanding between people of all ages, and Shared Lives is a perfect example of how we can achieve this.

"We challenge you to embrace your community, reach out to someone from another generation, a neighbour, friend, or family member and celebrate the power of shared experiences. Together, let's bridge gaps, build connections and celebrate the interdependence that makes our community so remarkable."

* You can find out more about becoming a Shared Lives Carer and the support they receive - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/shared-lives

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