Terry came to live with Pat and his wife Elaine in November 2010. Terry has learning disabilities and has worked full time as a gardener for 10 years. A job he loves.

Terry fits in... he gets on very well with Pat and Elaine as well as their children and grandchildren. So much so that he visits all the family for tea and had Christmas with them all.

Terry says "I like it here. I go to work and come and go and have my own key. I like Elaine's cooking and feel safe and wanted here".

Elaine told us why she wanted to be a shared life carer..... "I have worked in care all my working career, but you don't need to have that background. All you have to do is care, have common sense, and a sense of humour. People think we're doing it just for Terry, but it's for us as well, especially as the kids are grown up and have moved out". Pat said "I took retirement and felt a bit lonely if I'm honest. I didn't feel needed any more. When Elaine is working, I have the time on my hands to do things, but no one to do it with. We have an allotment and Terry helps me with that. We've just put a fence up together in the garden and he's great company. We have a right laugh".

We asked Elaine and Pat, what do you need to be a shared lives carer? Patience, game for a laugh and a caring personality as well as a spare bedroom and a home and family to share.

Tracey is a bubbly young woman with a learning disability. Until March last year she lived with another shared lives carer. When her carer made the decision to retire, Kirklees Council helped to match Tracey to another suitable carer.

Deborah became involved with shared lives a few years ago after seeing some information about the scheme. She has always worked in learning disability services and said: "I saw shared lives as a great way to help and support someone in a homely situation."  Tracey is the first person Deborah has been matched with since been approved as a shared lives carer.

The shared lives scheme will always look for the best possible match for both the carer and the person being supported. Tracey often visited Deborah at her home a few months before moving in to make sure that they would be a good match for each other.

Deborah lives in Huddersfield and ideally Tracey wanted to stay in Dewsbury where her friends live. Deborah said: "We have helped her build new friends and networks here and make sure she still sees a lot of her friends in Dewsbury. And now she knows more people than me!  When we go out supermarket there will always be someone that Tracey knows. It takes a lot of time to get the shopping done sometimes."Deborah and Tracey get on really well at home. Deborah said: "Tracey is such a people person. She always has a hello and a big smile to everybody she speaks to. But it's a two-way thing. She helps me too and looks after me. In a morning she'll check that I have everything that I need for the day.

"Deborah has a real sense of achievement knowing that she is helping Tracey live her life the way she wants to." Tracey says: "I'm able to do lots of things. In the house we go jigsaws or go out to the pictures - and bowling too! We also go walking with the dog, Alfie." Deborah added: "You need patience and it can be hard work. But we also have great fun".

May is aged 89 and lives alone in an upstairs flat in South Kirklees. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. May's main carer is her daughter who also has health concerns and lives several miles away. The main problem was that May insisted on pursuing her life long hobby of hill walking. Unfortunately, May was getting lost when out walking and was often brought home by the police. They knew where she lived because she always took her handbag - often full of money.

May was matched with a 60 year old female Shared Lives carer. Lydia, like May, loves hill walking. Lydia spends two "sessions" a week for up to three hours at a time. They go hill walking if the weather is fine, if not they might catch a bus to a local market and shop for May's tea. This arrangement has continued for over a year. May always remembers to wait for Lydia and no longer gets lost. May describes Lydia's visits as the "highlight of her week", while her daughter calls Lydia a "lifesaver".

May can continue in the pastime of her choice- improving her wellbeing and motivation. Her physical and mental health is maintained - due to the benefits of physical exercise. May has company two afternoons a week - preventing feelings of loneliness. May is also maintaining social skills. May's daughter has peace of mind and knows Lydia will help her mum with any small problem she has.

David, our 32-year old son, has a learning disability, is partially sighted and has diabetes and Coeliac disease.

When Sue, a retired nurse, was suggested as a potential Shared Lives carer, this looked like a wonderful match for David. At their first meeting, it was obvious that they were made for each other.

There was, however, one big drawback. Sue has a cat and a dog and David is frightened of dogs and not that keen on cats. Mollie, Sue's Collie cross is the nicest dog anyone could hope to meet.

Whilst David will never grace the ring at Crufts, Sue has worked tirelessly with the pair of them so that nowadays David looks forward to his walks with Mollie and does not object to her sitting on his feet!

The cat? The cat ignores David and David ignores the cat. Well, you can't have everything, can you?

So, in addition to giving us the occasional time together which we very much appreciate, this particular match has had some wonderful and unexpected spin-offs. David very much enjoys his time with Sue and particularly his walks with Mollie where he has met all the other dog walkers in the area and this has considerably reduced his fear of dogs in general.

The next project for David is getting used to buses and trains - then there will be no stopping him!