Independent Lives

20/11/2025

We’re proud to be supporting !

This year’s theme ‘Know your rights, use your rights’ is all about making sure more carers understand their entitlements and feel confident to use them.

Did you know?

Carers have the right to:

✔️ Request unpaid Carer’s Leave
✔️ Request flexible working
✔️ Ask their GP to identify them as a carer
✔️ Request a free flu jab
✔️ Be protected against discrimination or harassment
✔️ Be consulted when the person they are caring for is being discharged from hospital
✔️ Request a carer’s assessment

18/11/2025

Every day in October, someone found the right PA for their care and independence. 💜

Looking for your perfect Personal Assistant, or hoping to make a difference as a PA? Let’s make it happen together this November!

Find out more 👉 https://pa-pages.org/pa-vacancies/

17/11/2025

Are you a Direct Payment employer looking for friendly, reliable support?

You’re in the right place! 🙌

Our DP Employer Support Group offers a safe, welcoming space where you can share ideas, talk through challenges, celebrate successes, or simply ask questions.

We understand the unique experiences that come with being a Direct Payment employer, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

We meet regularly online for relaxed, open conversations on a wide range of topics — plus plenty of friendly chit-chat.

At our next meeting, we’ll be joined by the lovely Daisy, who will walk us through the PA Pages website and share her top tips for getting the most out of it.

🖥️ Join us on Wednesday 26th November 2025, from 10:30am to 11:30am on TEAMS.

We’d love to see you there!

👉 Book your place https://pa-pages.org/event/direct-payment-employer-support-group-sussex-5/

14/11/2025

👉 Have you had any experience with Direct Payments / Personal Budgets in Wiltshire? Voice It, Hear It want to hear from you! 🗣️

Direct Payments are about giving you more choice and control over how your care and support needs are met, whether that’s personal care, short breaks or anything else that helps you live your life.

This survey is for people who:
✔️ Use Direct Payments now
✔️ Were offered Direct Payments but didn’t take it up
✔️ Tried Direct Payments but later returned to council-arranged support
✔️ Haven’t heard of Direct Payments but think you might be eligible
✔️ Support someone with Direct Payments (paid or unpaid)
✔️ Are a professional who supports, advises, or works with people offered Direct Payments

👉 Share your experience and help shape support in Wiltshire.

Fill out Voice It, Hear It's survey and share as much as you would like in your own time, at your own pace: https://survey.communityfirst.org.uk/zs/3CBZvN

💬 Prefer to chat? Call, email, or meet face-to-face… whatever works for you. Let VIHI know you’ve got something to say, and they’ll listen.
📧 Email: voice@communityfirst.org.uk
📞 Phone: 01380 722 475
🌟 Your voice. Your chance to shape support in Wiltshire. By sharing your story, you can help shape services for the better.

13/11/2025

Our amazing Everyday Superhero Steph!

Interested in taking part in the Superhero Series?

We are looking for Superheroes & Sidekicks for a true winter warmer on Sunday 7th December. Sign up and save the day for one SUPER-festive fundraising event!

👉https://www.independentlives.org/superhero-series-winter/

Meet our Everyday Superhero Steph! INDEPENDENT LIVES (DISABILITY)

At the Superhero series we celebrate our Superheroes & showcase diversity. This Series is for all the unsung Superheroes who boldly face what life throws at them & are looking to take on super sporting challenges with their own unique superpowers!

Steph's Superpower is being a Zebra Warrior! Steph has taken part at both At Home Superhero series 2025 & Superhero Tri 2025 with her Super Sidekicks. Steph has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & PoTS, which keeps her on her toes in some super unpredictable ways. The water was a bit of a wild card for Steph's heart & blood pressure, but she was ready to take on the challenge at Superhero Tri 2025! Her next mission: Superhero Tri 2026!

Superhero HQ Contact Line:
Tel: +44 7394 663540
Email us: hello@superheroseries.co.uk

13/11/2025

Today we’re tipping our hats 🎩 to the incredible Personal Assistants who support people every day.

They wear many hats - carers, organisers, advocates, chefs, and companions - often all in one morning!

💛 Wear a hat today to celebrate everything they do.

11/11/2025

We’re thrilled to now provide Direct Payment support across Wiltshire! 🌿

Our team is passionate about helping people feel confident and supported in managing their Direct Payments, so that they can live more independently and in a way that suits their needs.

10/11/2025

♥️ Make a difference this festive season!

Join Independent Lives Care Service as a Healthcare Support Worker and help support people in their own homes across West Sussex. Our service is built on compassion, dignity, and independence — and it starts with you.

👉 For more information: https://www.independentlives.org/careers/current-vacancies/

07/11/2025

This , we’re saying a huge THANK YOU to our fantastic trustees! 💐

Your commitment, insight, and care help us thrive and we couldn’t do it without you.

👉 Find out more about our trustees: https://www.independentlives.org/about-us/meet-the-team/meet-our-board/

06/11/2025

☃️ We’re excited to launch the Wheely Good Raffle, a fundraising journey with a big goal - to raise enough money over the next three years to purchase our very own carers' respite service minibus! 🚌

For just £2 a ticket, you have a chance to win some fantastic prizes!

Top prizes include:

⭐£75 Amazon Voucher
⭐£50 Amazon Voucher
⭐£50 Gift Experience Voucher
⭐£50 Ocado Gift Voucher

Get your tickets today! ➡️ https://www.independentlives.org/wheely-good-raffle/

04/11/2025

🚌 𝐇𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 – 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐧!

At Independent Lives, we support carers and their loved ones to enjoy time out, explore, and recharge. Our accessible minibus, Malcolm, is here to make adventures possible!

🌈 What’s on offer?

✔ Scenic outings across beautiful Sussex
✔ Fun stops for drinks, lunch, and laughter
✔ Trained staff and volunteers to ensure a safe, joyful experience
✔ Respite for carers, confidence for passengers

📅 When?
Mondays and Tuesdays – Malcolm picks you up for a day of connection and relaxation.

💬 "𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘸, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨." — A carer’s story

✨ Give adventure a chance! Contact us to book your seat.

31/10/2025

🚴‍♂️ Winter Wonder Wheels is coming!

Walk, wheel, run, or anything in between around three scenic lakeside distances, 1km, 5km & 10km. ❄️ Enjoy music, food, (fake) snow, and fun activities, a festive day out for the whole family!

Find out more and sign up today using the link below!

https://www.independentlives.org/superhero-series-winter/