Developing Homeshare for your organisation

Shared Lives Plus will be delivering a series of free workshops aimed at organisations interested in delivering Homeshare in Northern Ireland.  This builds on the N.I. Homeshare feasibility study commissioned by the Department for Communities and launched in late 2018. These workshops are being delivered with funding support from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Homeshare currently brings together older people (Householder) living on their own with a spare room and younger adults (Homesharer) seeking affordable accommodation      

• The Homesharer provides approx. 8 -10 hours of practical support a week e.g. help with shopping, cleaning, handyperson and gardening tasks as well as sharing meals.  In return they pay a lower than average market rent.
• The number of older people living on their own is expected to increase significantly in coming years in Northern Ireland.  Many of these older people need practical support to stay in their own homes especially as they become frailer.
• Homeshare is also tackling growing social isolation and loneliness among older people living on their own.
• Homeshare schemes are set up and run mainly by third sector organisations who oversee matching, vetting and ongoing support & supervision for arrangements. 
• Schemes have the potential to become self-funding after several years.

Workshop Content

Workshop sessions will cover:

• What is Homeshare – a general overview and your chance to ask questions and get a full understanding of the current model, safeguarding procedures and financial models
• How would Homeshare work with your organisation - a chance to work in depth at looking how the model could be adapted for your organisation and the people it could support
• Partnership and funding – putting research into practice, who will deliver Homeshare, financial planning and bid writing
• 1:1 session with organisations on the practicalities of setting up and running a scheme

Booking Information

These workshops are free to attend and will take place in 9 Adelaide, Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GA. 

Workshops 1 & 2 (AM/PM) – Wednesday 29th May 9:45am-4pm

Workshop 3 – Wednesday 26th June 9:45am-4pm

Please reserve your places by e-mailing [email protected] . Early booking is advised.