Shared Lives Plus
Shared Lives Plus is a UK membership charity, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Liverpool, that supports a national network of 100+ Shared Lives schemes serving adults with care needs, young people leaving care, unpaid carers, and families through programmes, consultancy, training, and membership services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLiverpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Shared Lives Plus does
Shared Lives Plus is a UK registered charity (Charity Number 1095562) founded in 1992 and headquartered in Liverpool. It is the national membership body for the Shared Lives model, a regulated form of social care in which an adult with learning disabilities, mental health needs, dementia, or other support needs lives with or is regularly supported by an approved Shared Lives carer. The charity supports a national network of more than 100 local Shared Lives schemes, an estimated 14,000+ Shared Lives carers, and approximately 14,500+ people supported, alongside Homeshare programmes, training, and consultancy services.
Its core product surface is service-led rather than technology-led. There is no proprietary software platform disclosed; delivery is organized through local schemes, in-person carer matching and approval processes, and policy work with regulators including the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, and Care Inspectorate Wales. Specialized programmes include the Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care programme launched in 2024, the Live More dementia programme, the Shared Futures Project supporting unpaid carers and families, and a Homeshare programme matching older people with people needing affordable housing in exchange for low-level support.
The business model is a hybrid charity model. Membership fees from local schemes contribute approximately 20% of income. The balance is funded by grants from major UK foundations including the Pears Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, individual and corporate donations via JustGiving, training and consultancy fees, and project-specific fundraising. The charity monetizes its national network primarily through grants and membership rather than commercial contracts, which makes revenue lumpy and grant-cycle dependent rather than ARR-style recurring.
Shared Lives Plus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shared Lives Plus
- Legal name
- Shared Lives Plus
- Website
- https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shared Lives Plus is a UK membership charity, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Liverpool, that supports a national network of 100+ Shared Lives schemes serving adults with care needs, young people leaving care, unpaid carers, and families through programmes, consultancy, training, and membership services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shared Lives Plus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adult Social Care
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-In Caregiver Placement & Matching (HSABAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live-In Care (Single Caregiver, 24-Hour Presence) (HSABAHAB), Live-In Respite Care (Multi-Day) (HSABAGAC), Dementia Personal Care (ADLs) Support (HSABAEAB)
Keywords
Where Shared Lives Plus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liverpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shared Lives Plus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Around 20% of income comes from membership fees paid by Shared Lives carers and schemes. Membership provides benefits including legal advice, financial guidance, insurance, and access to support teams.
- Grant funding: Significant grant funding from charitable foundations and government lottery programs including National Lottery Awards For All, National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and others. These grants support core operations and specific programs.
- Donations: Individual donations and corporate donations accepted through JustGiving platform. Average phone call support costs £50 per call.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Shared Lives Plus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shared Lives Plus is the UK-wide membership charity for Shared Lives care and Homeshare. It supports a national network of more than 100 local schemes where approved carers open their homes to provide long-term live-in care, short breaks, respite, and day support to adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical disabilities, dementia, and care leavers. The organisation sells carer memberships, consultancy to local authorities and partner charities seeking to set up or grow schemes, and bespoke eLearning/training products for the social care workforce.
Product overview
Shared Lives Plus operates as a membership charity offering a portfolio of social care programmes built around two core models: Shared Lives (where approved carers share their homes with adults needing support) and Homeshare (matching householders with Companions). The organisation provides these through a network of local member schemes across the UK. Beyond direct programme delivery, the portfolio includes consultancy support services for organisations wanting to establish or grow schemes, training and digital products for workforce development, and a membership programme offering benefits including legal advice, insurance, and financial guidance to individual carers. Specialised programmes like Live More (dementia support) and the Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care programme extend the core model into specific populations, while the Shared Futures Project represents an innovation initiative exploring expanded eligibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Homeshare UK: A programme under Shared Lives Plus supporting Homeshare arrangements where householders and Homesharers are matched
- Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care
- Live More
Products and services
- Shared Lives Programme A social care model where approved carers share their homes and family life with adults who need support, offering long-term living arrangements, short breaks, and day support services. Used by adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical disabilities, dementia, and care leavers across the UK.
- Homeshare UK Programme Matches householders (typically older people) with Homesharers who provide companionship and light practical help in exchange for affordable accommodation. Targets older householders at risk of isolation and Homesharers needing lower-cost housing.
- Consultancy Support Expert consultancy helping local authorities, charities and partner organisations establish, grow, or diversify Shared Lives or Homeshare schemes, including guidance on setting up new services.
- Training and Digital Products Bespoke online tools, eLearning modules, and specialised training resources for social care practitioners and Shared Lives workforce development. Sells eLearning and training to schemes, commissioners, and practitioners.
- Carer Membership Annual membership for Shared Lives carers and Homeshare hosts providing legal advice, financial guidance, public liability insurance, mortgage guidance, Blue Light Card discounts, and access to the carer support helpline. Approximately 20% of organisational income is derived from these membership fees.
- Live More Programme A pilot programme supporting people living with dementia and their families, helping them stay connected, active and independent for longer through Shared Lives arrangements.
- Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care Programme Specialised programme supporting care-experienced young people aged 16+ with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs to build stable relationships and independence through Shared Lives. Has supported more than 125 young people since launching in 2024.
- Shared Futures Project Innovation project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation testing how Shared Lives can support care leavers who fall outside traditional social care eligibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 125 young people supported through care leavers programme since 2024
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shared Lives Plus
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Shared Lives Plus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Shared Lives Plus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Markel LawcoreMarkel Law provides legal advice services to Shared Lives carers as part of membership benefits. Shared Lives Plus passes carer details to Markel Law for access to legal expert advice and public liability insurance claims handling on behalf of Towergate Insurance Group Ltd.
- Towergate Insurance Group LtdcoreTowergate Insurance Group Ltd provides public liability insurance for Shared Lives carers, administered through Markel Law. Carer details are passed to Towergate when insurance support is needed.
- Mortgage BrainsupportingMortgage Brain provides free mortgage advice to Shared Lives carer members, helping navigate the unique circumstances of caring for unrelated individuals in their home.
- BWM Chartered AccountantssupportingBWM provides tax advice and accountancy services for members with complex Shared Lives arrangements, including guidance on self-employment registration and care relief.
- BK PlussupportingBK Plus provides free National Insurance and benefits advice to members, with advisors specialized in self-employed carer finances for over 11 years.
- Blue Light CardsupportingBlue Light Card provides discount services for emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces. Shared Lives Plus members access thousands of discounts through this partnership.
- Age NIcoreAge NI runs the Shared Lives scheme in Northern Ireland, funded by the Department of Health. The scheme matches older people with approved carers for day support and companionship, reducing loneliness and providing personalized support. Partnership exemplifies how Shared Lives Plus supports local organizations to establish and grow schemes.
- Positive FuturescorePositive Futures runs the Families Matter Shared Lives Service in Northern Ireland, hosting ministerial visits and demonstrating the model's value. The organization provides short breaks, respite care, and long-term support, serving as an exemplar scheme.
- CornerstonecoreCornerstone manages Shared Lives Glasgow, one of the schemes supporting young people leaving care through the national programme. The organization runs both Ayrshire and Scottish Borders Shared Lives services.
- MailchimpsupportingEmail marketing platform used to send newsletters and communications to subscribers. User information is transferred to Mailchimp for processing.
- JustGivingsupportingOnline fundraising platform enabling individual donations to Shared Lives Plus. Donations can be made through the JustGiving widget on the website.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shared Lives Plus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hft (Home Farm Trust): Long-established UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including operating Shared Lives schemes. Comparable as a national disability charity delivering family-style, community-based support across the UK.
- National Care Forum: UK membership body for not-for-profit social care and independent health providers. Closely comparable as a national membership charity advocating for and supporting non-profit care organisations across the UK.
- MacIntyre: UK charity providing lifelong learning disability support including Shared Lives and supported living. Comparable as a national non-profit delivering person-centred, relationship-based social care.
- Consensus: UK social care provider offering supported living and community-based services for people with learning disabilities and complex needs. Comparable as a direct delivery peer for Shared Lives-style supported living arrangements.
- National Care Association: UK membership association representing independent care providers (home care, residential, supported living). Comparable as a national membership body serving community-based social care providers with similar advocacy, training and member-benefit functions.
- Carers Trust: Major UK charity for unpaid carers, operating a network of local carer organisations. Comparable as a national membership/charity structure supporting a distributed network of care providers and carers across the UK.
- United Response: UK charity that directly operates Shared Lives schemes supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Directly comparable as a provider of the same care model that Shared Lives Plus represents at a national membership level.
- Sense (UK disability charity): National UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities and their families, including through supported living arrangements. Comparable as a national disability charity delivering relationship-based community support.
- UK Home Care Association: UK membership association for home care providers, representing organisations delivering care in people's own homes. Highly comparable as a national membership body focused on community-based home care, much like Shared Lives Plus for the Shared Lives model.
Broad incumbents
- Voyage Care: One of the UK's largest specialist social care providers supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury. Comparable as a national operator of supported living and Shared Lives-style services, but with a broader commercial footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Shared Lives Plus social profiles
Digital presenceShared Lives Plus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Shared Lives Plus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shared Lives Plus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Shared Lives Plus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shared Lives Plus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shared Lives Plus
What does Shared Lives Plus do?
Shared Lives Plus is the UK-wide membership charity for Shared Lives care and Homeshare. It supports a national network of more than 100 local schemes where approved carers open their homes to provide long-term live-in care, short breaks, respite, and day support to adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical disabilities, dementia, and care leavers. The organisation sells carer memberships, consultancy to local authorities and partner charities seeking to set up or grow schemes, and bespoke eLearning/training products for the social care workforce.
Is Shared Lives Plus a public or private company?
Shared Lives Plus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shared Lives Plus founded?
Shared Lives Plus was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shared Lives Plus based?
Shared Lives Plus is headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shared Lives Plus make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are grant funding and donations.
Who are Shared Lives Plus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hft (Home Farm Trust), National Care Forum, MacIntyre, Consensus, National Care Association, Carers Trust, United Response, Sense (UK disability charity) and UK Home Care Association. Voyage Care is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Shared Lives Plus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shared Lives Plus.
What industry is Shared Lives Plus in?
Shared Lives Plus's product category is Adult Social Care. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSABAMAD, Live-In Caregiver Placement & Matching, with a secondary code of HSABAHAB, Live-In Care (Single Caregiver, 24-Hour Presence). Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8082.