Celebrating Liz Gray: A Shared Lives carer Making a Difference in South Gloucestershire

In the heart of South Gloucestershire, Liz Gray is quietly transforming lives through her work as a Shared Lives carer. Her journey is one of compassion, resilience, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful connections—and it’s no surprise that she was recently nominated by Ategi for the "Making a Difference" award at the Learning Disability & Autism Awards 2025, where she proudly reached the finals.

A Life Rooted in Care

For Liz, care has always been a part of life. From supporting her elderly parents to raising her son Stephen, who has severe learning disabilities and autism, Liz’s home has long been a place of love and support. “With other children, they grow up and leave home,” Liz explains, “but when you’ve got a child with special needs, they either go to a residential home or have care in their own home. Stephen tried living away from the family home but was very anxious, so he has spent most of his life living with my husband Martin and I”.

The Power of Shared Lives

Liz and her husband Martin discovered Shared Lives when they were preparing Stephen for a future where they might not be around. Through Shared Lives Short Breaks, Stephen began to share his life with others, building social connections and learning to live alongside other adults with additional needs. Although he went to stay with families for short breaks on some occasions he refused to get out of the car. On one occasion when Liz and Martin were on a short trip to Venice Stephen ended up having to stay with his brother as he refused to get out of the car at the Shared Lives carer's house.

This experience lead Liz and Martin to become Shared Lives carers themselves, offering Short Breaks and Shared Days to others. In this way Stephen was having the opportunity of sharing his home with others to prepare him for the future.  Their home is now a hub of warmth and inclusion, where people with additional needs are welcomed not just as guests, but as part of the family.

A Family That Shares Lives

Whether it’s helping with a wheelchair or linking arms on a walk, the people Liz supports become part of her extended family. “When we’ve had grandchildren visiting, the lads we care for love coming to the park and supporting them,” she says. “They feel very much part of the family.”

One of Liz’s most cherished memories is a meal out in Portishead, where Stephen—who usually struggles with sitting at the table—joined Liz, her husband, her father-in-law and the two men they support. “To sit in a pub with the six of us was really an opportunity where we were sharing lives together. Liz’s father-in-law lived with them for the last three years of his life. He really looked forward to the two men they support coming to stay with them. He had a good collection of jokes he shared with them.  He also loved sharing stories of his life in the army.  “Doing Shared Lives has provided some wonderful enriching experiences for all of the family.”

Beyond Care: Music and Wheels

Liz’s impact goes far beyond Shared Lives. She is the driving force behind the Music Train, a volunteer-led initiative that has delivered nearly 600 live music events over 12 years, supported by Milestones Trust. In 2024 alone, she organised 152 events across 12 venues, reaching over 8,700 attendees. “The best comment I’ve ever had was from a lady whose husband has Alzheimer’s,” Liz recalls. “She said it gave her husband back for the afternoon.”

She also co-founded Warmley Wheelers with Milestones Trust, an accessible cycling project with 30 adapted bikes that has been running for over a decade. Inspired by Stephen’s love of cycling, Liz helped to secure funding and was involved with setting up the project, which now enables people with disabilities to enjoy the Bristol to Bath railway path.

Recognition and Humility

Liz has received multiple awards for her work, including the Care and Support West Award for Warmley Wheelers in 2015 and for the Music Train in 2023. This year The Music Train is a finalist for the Community Make a Difference Award at BBC Radio Bristol. Liz says, “Although it is an honour to be nominated and to receive awards, if it helps raise awareness for the projects to assist with funding then it’s worth it.”

At the centre of it all is Stephen—Liz’s greatest motivator. “He inspires me,” she says. “Everything I’ve done has been to make his life better and to help others like him.”