Nearly sixty people were in attendance when national charity, Camphill Village Trust celebrated their first year in operation as a Shared Lives scheme at their offices in Stourbridge last month.
Councillor Nic Barlow, the Dudley MBC Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care opened proceedings by congratulating the scheme on its incredible growth over the last 12 months. He added that the rapid expansion of the service across the Borough clearly demonstrated what is achievable when the council work in close partnership with experienced providers.
The councillor was very appreciative of the commitment shown by the Shared Lives Carers and what can be truly accomplished by ordinary families when they open their homes and support people with additional/complex needs to live in the community. He was impressed that the profile of this innovative model of care had been raised significantly and hoped that many more households throughout Dudley would consider becoming paid Shared Lives Carers in the very near future. Local MP’s, Margot James and Ian Austin, who are both great advocates of Shared Lives, also sent birthday wishes ahead of the celebrations.
Head of Service for Shared Lives, Dean Barnshaw, affirmed that Camphill Village Trust was extremely proud of the 18 new Arrangements which had been set up over the last year and that the scheme had added a new direction to the charity, complimenting already established community-based services being delivered in the area.
He noted that the birthday celebrations were a wonderful way of expressing gratitude to all those involved with the scheme and had worked tirelessly to reach the standards that they have. If anyone is interested in finding out more about becoming a Shared Lives Carer then please call the scheme on 01384 441505 or visit: www.camphillvillagetrust.org.uk
