Joyful giggles fill the room, as the delighted baby beams while he plays peekaboo with a laughing older man.
Mark Gould, 62, is enjoying the game every ounce as much as the eight-month-old baby, whose parents Beth and Craig Macauley join in with the infectious laughter.
This happy scene is a daily event in the three-bedroom Liverpool home they all share. But Mark is no doting grandparent. Until three years ago, he and the couple he lives with were total strangers. Teacher Beth, 28, and former finance guru Craig, 32, had only met Mark a handful of times before he moved in with them in 2021, as part of an incredible initiative called Shared Lives.
Astonishingly, most people have never heard of it, yet this agency has been placing strangers with additional needs with families, who are happy to give them a loving home, for 46 years.
In the case of Mark and the Macauleys, it’s been a roaring success.
After living in institutions for most of his life, as he has undiagnosed learning difficulties and no blood family to care for him, Mark is finally part of a wonderfully happy home, where he has seen the couple get married in 2022, as well as joining them on holiday and engaging with their adorable baby.
Beth says: "When I first told people that we were going to open our home to someone we didn’t know to help care for them, they couldn’t understand why we’d let a stranger into our home.
"But it really isn’t like that. We were matched with Mark and spent time getting to know him before he moved in, so he wasn’t a stranger. He’s a friend.
"Our friends and family were concerned that we wouldn’t be happy, they thought we were too young to give up our lives.
"Now, they think it’s brilliant, though. They adore Mark and our friends and family are always disappointed if they come round and he isn’t at home.”
Shared Lives is a care and support service for adults who want to live independently in their community – run as an alternative to supported living or residential care.
Founded in 1978, as care homes had started to close, at first its carers were unpaid volunteers, but the positions soon became paid, although the carers are classed as self-employed. Today, there are 150 Shared Lives schemes funded by local councils, with more than 10,000 carers opening their homes to someone else who needs support.
And the government has ploughed £46 million into supporting the schemes in local areas in the last three years. Typically, those receiving support have learning difficulties, mental health issues, or require short-term care after a hospital stay.
Carers all undergo a rigorous recruitment process, which takes around six months to complete, as well as needing a DBS check and a home assessment. Then they can earn up to £23,000 tax-free for sharing their lives with one person, increasing to £36,000 for living with two people.
Craig’s mum had been a Shared Lives carer, and he had grown up in a house full of people from different backgrounds. It was seeing how much pleasure the role gave her and, in turn, their family, that made him keen to follow in her footsteps.
He says: "I went into finance after leaving university, but I got to a point where I found it so unfulfilling.
"I had seen how happy my mum was in her job, and I wanted that amazing work-life balance that she had had – I knew I could do better. Beth and I spoke and we decided it was something that we could get involved with and it could
“Mark gets a lot out of it, but it’s not one way, we get a lot out of it too. We both love sport, but Beth doesn’t like watching the cricket or football with me – so Mark and I enjoy it together.
"We’ve been on a tour of Anfield together and out playing golf – it’s great to have someone around to do those things with, and I think Beth likes not having to pretend to enjoy sports with me anymore!
"The four of us just enjoy life together. We threw Mark a big party for his 60th birthday, we go on holiday together – and just have fun.”
Mark has been there for the couple’s biggest moments - even attending Beth’s baby shower, and her gender reveal party. And he’s been happy to help as the couple have navigated becoming parents.
"Sometimes, I worry that the baby teething all night will disturb Mark,” says Beth.
"But he always says he sleeps through the noise – and you can guarantee it’s him who gets all the smiles. It’s really important to us that our son is brought up in a home that is diverse and multi generational.
"Our parents don’t live very closeby, so it’s great that he gets to have an older person around the house. We want him to grow up with a sense of kindness and understanding. We all need to look after each other.
"It doesn’t feel like Mark is intruding on our lives, he enriches them.” Since living as part of a family, Mark has learned how to make his own meals, manage his money and can even go to the shops independently.
The couple have also taught him to make how own bed and do his own washing. Mark had never had the opportunity to learn how to do those things before,” explains Craig, “We’ve spent time helping him and he’s learned how to do them. But we’re always here if he needs help.”
For Mark the benefits are unquantifiable. He says: "I just wanted to come out of the care home and live in a proper house. It’s so good to be part of a family now. I love going on holidays and on days out, it’s made my whole life so much better.
"I love being around a baby too, he gives lovely smiles. I can go out and about by myself, and Craig has helped me learn what to do if I get lost, Sometimes I have to call him for directions, but it’s great being able to go where I want and do what I want.
"“It really has changed my life.”
Shared Lives Plus CEO, Ewan King, says: "For any of us who need, or will need, social care support in future, Shared Lives carers offer the life-changing experience of living or regularly visiting a loving home, in our local community.
"The beauty of Shared Lives as a social care service, is that people choose to visit or live with each other, based on personal interests and lifestyle, as well as their support or care needs, which can range from older age or learning disability, to mental ill health, dementia, carer’s respite, young people leaving care, or those who need an interim home after being discharged from hospital.
"I’d encourage anyone who wants a change of career, or a flexible role, which works around their family or existing job, to contact their local Shared Lives scheme to find out more.”
To find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer, click here.