HOMESHARING FAMILY FUN DAY AT BROOKLODGE

On Friday 17 July, Home Share Galway hosted a fantastic Home Sharing Family Fun Day at Brooklodge, bringing together Home Sharing families, people supported by the service, their families, friends and supporters for a wonderful day of connection, laughter and community.

Home Share Galway is a collaborative Home Sharing service delivered by Ability West and Corlann West, supporting people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy meaningful relationships, personalised supports and inclusive community living.

Attendees enjoyed a range of activities including outdoor games, face painting, delicious refreshments provided by the Brooklodge Café team, and an incredible music and dance performance by Limelight, which had everyone smiling and dancing along.

Celebrating 40 Years of Home Sharing in Galway

Home Sharing has been supporting people across Galway City and County since 1985. At its heart, Home Sharing offers people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience family and community life through carefully matched short-break respite and fulltime shared living arrangements with approved Home Sharing families.

Introducing Relative Home Sharing

Alongside our traditional Home Sharing model, Ability West is developing Relative Home Sharing, an innovative and flexible approach that recognises the important role extended families and friends already play in supporting loved ones with disabilities.

Relative Home Sharing enables eligible relatives and friends to become approved Home Sharing family, helping to deliver planned respite and support within existing family networks. This model strengthens family connections, promotes continuity of care, and provides greater choice and flexibility for individuals and their families while ensuring the same robust standards, training, oversight and safeguarding that underpin all Home Sharing arrangements.

By embracing Relative Home Sharing, we are expanding opportunities for people to remain connected to those they know and trust, while creating sustainable and personalised support options for the future.

Could You Become a Home Sharing Family?

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to supplement your income while making a genuine difference in the life of a person with an intellectual disability, we would love to hear from you. Home Sharing Manager: 087 367 2940 or Home Sharing Support Officer: 087 443 8965

Together, we can create meaningful relationships, strengthen communities and support people to live full and connected lives.

A huge thank-you to Sinead Anderson and her wonderful team at Brooklodge who provided yummy cakes and beverages - a truly great venue for an event like this! Well done all.