Oxfordshire is set to benefit from new funding intended to boost programmes that support adults with additional needs to live independently.

The funding comes from the Department for Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF).

Beneficiaries are expected to include the county council’s Shared Lives programme and Age UK Oxfordshire’s Homeshare project.

Shared Lives carer, Sarah Rees, who has been part of the Oxfordshire County Council programme since 2020, was visited by Helen Whately MP, minister for health and social care, during the funding announcement.

From her home in Grove, Ms Rees offers short-term, emergency, and long-term stays to adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues, and other impediments to independent living.

She said: "Being part of Shared Lives has given me the chance to meet some incredible people.

"It's important that people feel like they're part of the family when they stay with us.

"This can be as easy as taking our dog, Hugo, for a walk in the park. That sense of normality can be just what people need to really put them at ease.

“Sometimes the support offered in more formal settings just doesn’t work for people. They just don’t seem to fit. But everyone fits in Shared Lives.”

One long-term resident, Sammy, said she is encouraged to be independent and that Ms Rees does and excellent job.

The Homeshare programme of Age UK Oxfordshire, which pairs older people with those able to support them, while providing affordable accommodation, will also benefit from the funding.

Marian Pocock, Homeshare Oxfordshire’s service manager, said: "We are delighted to receive this funding from the ARF.

"It will give us the much-needed additional resource to be able to expand our Homeshare service across the county."

Joan Williams, a 92-year old participant in the Homeshare programme, said: "Aušra coming to live with me has worked out very well.

"We just get on so well. She’s busy and I’m busy so we have our own lives and are not together a lot of the time, but we might watch something interesting on TV together, talk about the day, and we make each other laugh."

Approximately £150,000 of the £469,841 will be allocated towards developing Oxfordshire's programmes in line with the council’s vision of facilitating well and independent living for its residents.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Oxfordshire County Council coordinated the bid that has attracted significant funding to the south-east, enabling local authorities to add capacity to innovative social care programmes in the region."

However, he expressed concern over the sporadic nature of the funding and the need for central government to focus more on social care reform.