Hope's powerful voice

When we first met Hope

When we met Hope for the first time, she was living in supported accommodation. She wasn't happy there, and felt like the constantly changing staff team there never gave her the sense of stability or the safe space she needed to build up a sense of trust. Hope's autistic, and back then, was non-verbal. 

Without those consistent personal relationships, she felt like she was struggling to develop her communication skills, and it felt hard to connect with people around her.

Hope's ambition

Hope's an intelligent, ambitious person with big dreams and a strong sense of her identity. She wanted to move to a new city, go to uni, and start a career. ‘I felt like I was going to miss out on them key experiences of growing up, moving out and having that independence', Hope says. 'At that time, it felt a million miles away.'

Hope knew she had to make a change, so along with her mum, she started searching for different things she could to do make it possible. That's when they found PSS Shared Lives, a scheme ran by PSS where people who need support can go and live with a Shared Lives carer in their home. 

A whole new world

Everything changed when Hope was introduced to her PSS Shared Lives carer, Steph. Hope was looking for someone who could support her to progress her communication, but without putting on too much pressure. Steph was the perfect match: 'Steph was kind, and, most importantly, consistent', says Hope. 'I needed someone who was patient and willing to work with me and not try to force conversation. The family-style environment of Shared Lives was really important to me.'

In Steph’s house, Hope was finally able to feel safe enough to begin to communicate in her own time and on her own terms. Through everyday interactions and a nurturing approach, Hope gradually began to express herself. 

One day, something remarkable happened. During a trip to the supermarket with Steph, Hope was standing at the checkout when the cashier asked her, ‘Would you like a bag?’ For the first time in a long time, Hope responded on her own, surprising everyone – including Steph. It was a huge breakthrough that marked the beginning of Hope’s journey toward finding her voice again.

Speaking up

Today, she's not only speaking,  but using her voice to create real change. 

Hope now speaks publicly as co-chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Adult Social Care; she’s an ambassador for Shared Lives membership organisation Shared Lives Plus, helping to promote the form of care that supports her; and, as if that wasn't amazing enough, she recently went to Downing St with the My Vote, My Voice campaign, advocating for disabled people’s right to vote. 

We're really proud that, after volunteering with us for a while, Hope's now also working as our customer service team leader here at PSS. She helps people find the right support for them, helps make sure our services are the highest quality, and makes everyone feel really welcome when they come through the doors in our head office. She's a super valuable part of our team and is always making sure she advocates for those around her, taking a leading role in our Shared Voices group, which is all about the people we support making decisions about what happens at PSS. Hope also joins us at Pride every year, speaking out for LGBTQIA+ rights. 

What once seemed impossible – standing up and speaking out – has become Hope's reality, thanks to the support of her Shared Lives carer and the nurturing environment that allowed her to become her best self.

We're super proud of Hope and we love having her on our team.