Liam’s journey to independence
For Liam, moving into his own Lifeways flat was more than a milestone - it was a lifeline.
At just 22, he had already faced challenges many people can’t imagine. Living with neurodivergence, battling mental health challenges, and overcoming addiction had left him feeling stuck. Independence felt like a dream he’d never reach.
But now, just a couple of months after moving into a new supported living service in Trafford, run by Lifeways, Liam’s life has taken a dramatic turn.
“Living here has given me a new start in life,” he said. “It’s given me stability and, even though I have an amazing family, being here has helped me realise that now my life makes sense. It’s given me a new start and a purpose.”
The Trafford service is no ordinary home. Run by Lifeways, the UK’s largest provider of support for adults in the community, the shared house provides 24/7 care to six residents aged 17 to 30.
It’s a place where young people with complex needs, like Liam, can move away from their family homes for the first time and take steps toward true independence.
'Kind and understanding'
For Liam, this has been life-changing.
“I’ve never really felt truly independent before, but now I do,” he explains. “The people here are kind and understanding and don’t judge the previous parts of your life. I haven’t always experienced that but here, there’s no judgement - just understanding.”
Staff like Melonie Duffin, the service manager, have been a huge part of Liam’s journey. “Melonie is a fantastic soul,” Liam said. “She’s a genuine person you can talk to and have a laugh with. She doesn’t approach it as work; she approaches it as a kind soul who is here to help.”
With the right support, Liam has been able to set his sights on the future. His dream is to become a working actor, and he’s already thinking about building a career and one day having a family of his own.
“This is the best place to start,” says Liam. “I really feel like I have a future ahead of me now. I feel like I’m in a position to build a life.”
A partnership that changes lives
The Trafford service is the result of a partnership between Lifeways, Trafford Council (which commissioned the service), and the landlord Golden Lane Housing, one of the UK’s leading supported housing providers for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Councillor Jane Slater, Executive Member for Health and Independent Lives at Trafford Council, said: “We’re proud to be involved in this exciting project that will make such a difference for young people at a key point in their lives.”
Golden Lane Housing played a vital role in making the service a reality. Emily Collinson, Head of Development and Growth at Golden Lane Housing, said: “Our mission is to help people with a learning disability or autistic people to find and enjoy a suitable, safe home. We aim for our tenants to live in an environment which will support them to live as independently as possible.
Caption: Top: Melonie Duffin, the Lifeways service manager; Angela Kirkup, Housing Officer for Golden Lane Housing. Bottom: Liam, who we support; and Councillor Jane Slater, Executive Member for Health and Independent Lives at Trafford Council
“It has been fantastic to work with Trafford Council and Lifeways to bring this scheme to life and to welcome our new tenants. We wish them all the very best in their new home, and look forward to seeing how they get on fulfilling their goals in the future.”
Liam’s story is just one example of how the Trafford service is transforming lives. As James Denison, Lifeways’ Regional Director for Supported Living in the North West, explained: “Leaving the family home is a big step, and for people with complex needs it is an even bigger adventure, one in which we feel privileged to play a role.
“What we have in Trafford is an incredible home for six amazing young people who, with our expert support, will learn the skills they need to live a more fulfilling and independent life.”
For Liam, this home isn’t just a place to live - it’s the foundation of a future he never thought would be possible. But with the support of Lifeways, Trafford Council, and Golden Lane Housing, he’s building a life filled with hope, purpose, and dreams waiting to be realised.
About Lifeways:
Lifeways is the UK’s largest team of support professionals providing support for adults in the community.
We support adults with diverse and complex needs, including learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and mental health conditions.
Lifeways delivers support across three divisions: supported living, residential and mental health services.
As the supported living sector’s largest team of professionals, Lifeways’ extensive experience and national reach mean we deliver extraordinary support to adults, enabling them to live fulfilling and independent lives in the community.
Our 9,500 colleagues currently support around 4,200 individuals who live in our 1,500 supported living and residential services across England, Scotland, and Wales.