Steve’s Shared Lives story

After 27 years working in aviation, Steve found himself with more time on his hands, a spare bedroom and a growing sense that he wanted to do something that could make a difference to someone else.

Becoming an Ategi Shared Lives carer felt like a natural next step.

Steve has lived in Iver since 2005, having moved there simply because he found a house he liked. Over the years, it has become home. He knows the local area well, from the shops and transport links to the many activities and community groups in the surrounding towns.

But this isn't the first time Steve has opened his home to someone who needed a little extra stability.

A home where people can find their feet

Several years ago, Steve welcomed two brothers, aged 18 and 20, into his home. Both were experiencing their own challenges, including autism, ADHD, anxiety and a personality disorder.

What started as a place to stay became something much more.

Steve supported them with everyday things, from cooking healthy meals to finding opportunities for work. He helped them develop practical skills and, importantly, gave them the stability and encouragement to grow in confidence.

Over time, both brothers found employment and became more independent.

For Steve, it showed what can happen when someone has the right environment around them.

Now, with a spare bedroom available, he wanted to create that opportunity again.

“I enjoy helping people,” Steve says. “I feel that someone who needs some guidance and support would fit in perfectly.”

Finding a new direction

Steve's own life has taken him through some very different chapters.

After leaving school, he joined the RAF, working in telecommunications before becoming a telegraphist. His service took him to different parts of the UK and overseas, including the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island.

He later joined Thames Valley Police before returning to an area he knew well: aviation and communications.

In 1994, Steve joined SITA, an organisation providing communications and related applications to the aviation industry. He stayed there for 27 years, progressing through a number of roles before becoming a project manager. The work took him around the world, something he enjoyed.

Then, in 2021, the department he worked in closed and Steve was made redundant.

After a lifetime of working, suddenly having more time was difficult to adjust to. Steve tried different roles, but none felt quite right. Since then, he has kept himself busy with projects around his home, including redecorating and making improvements.

And then there is Malachi, his energetic young Malinois dog, who gives Steve another reason to get out every day.

Their daily walks take them through the quieter rural areas around Iver — something Steve enjoys and a routine he hopes could become part of everyday life for someone he supports.

Supporting someone to move forward

Steve knows that people don't all need the same things.

He would particularly like to support someone who is relatively independent but might need encouragement, guidance and someone alongside them as they build confidence.

He is especially interested in supporting someone who may have experienced homelessness or be struggling with their mental health — someone who, in Steve's words, might simply be “down on their luck”.

His hope is to help someone feel stable in their home, discover what they enjoy, build confidence and find meaningful activities, work or opportunities in their local community.

That could mean doing something as simple as working out a weekly meal plan together, learning how to manage household tasks, travelling somewhere by bus for the first time, or finding a local group or activity to join.

Steve's approach is to do things with someone rather than for them.

He wants to take time to get to know the person, understand how they communicate and what matters to them, and then support them to make their own choices.

“I would take the time to get to know them,” he says, “and work with the person to learn new skills and promote empowerment.”

Becoming part of the community

Steve believes that having a home is only part of feeling settled.

He wants the person he supports to have opportunities to become part of the community around them — whether that's through work, volunteering, leisure activities, social groups or simply getting out and about.

Iver offers plenty of possibilities.

There are local shops, a pharmacy and community facilities, while nearby Uxbridge and Langley offer a wider range of leisure, shopping and social opportunities. The Elizabeth line provides a direct connection from Iver into London.

Steve knows the area well and would be happy to explore it alongside the person he supports, helping them discover places and activities that are right for them.

“I'm looking forward to developing a positive relationship with the person I'm supporting,” he says.

A different kind of caring

Steve hasn't worked professionally in social care before. He doesn't have formal care qualifications, and he sees that as part of the journey.

As part of becoming a Shared Lives carer, he has completed training covering areas including safeguarding, health and safety, financial guidance, mental capacity and the role of a Shared Lives carer.

He is also open about the areas where he will need to learn more.

For Steve, that's part of what makes Shared Lives work. He knows he doesn't have to have all the answers. He has Ategi alongside him, as well as training, guidance and regular support.

What he does bring is years of experience of working with people, solving problems, adapting to different situations and — perhaps most importantly — listening.

One of Steve's long-standing friends describes him as patient and a good listener who builds relationships, doesn't judge and offers advice without trying to make decisions for other people.

Those qualities are important to Steve's vision of Shared Lives.

“I want to support someone to feel stable, become part of the local community and grow in confidence.”

For Steve, opening the door to Shared Lives is about more than having a spare room.

It's about making room in everyday life for another person — and seeing what might become possible when someone has the space, support and encouragement to find their feet.

Could Shared Lives be your next chapter?

Find out more about becoming an Ategi Shared Lives carer.