Leeds appeal for people to join Homeshare scheme

Leeds City Council has appealed for people to join its house-sharing scheme, which brings young and older people together.

The Homeshare scheme matches someone younger looking for an affordable place to live with someone older who has a spare room and who would benefit from help or companionship at home.

The home sharer isn’t involved in providing personal care, but agrees to provide around 10 hours a week support in exchange for a room.

Help can be many different things, from shopping, cooking, cleaning, walking the dog to looking after the garden or just having someone to watch the telly with and by giving the older person the reassurance of knowing there’s someone else in the house during the night.

Home-owners and sharers will contribute an affordable monthly fee to cover the running costs of the scheme and sharers also contribute towards the home utility bills.

Jon Keating and Margaret Marshall (pictured) were matched thanks to the scheme.

They live in a large house in Roundhay and epitomise how Homeshare benefits sharers by bringing different generations together.

‘I was living on my own and didn’t like being alone in the house overnight. So having Jon in the house has helped me feel safe,’ said Ms Marshall.

‘I’m a very tidy person and I like everything to be put back in its right place. I’m pleased that Jon is a tidy person too.’

Mr Keating is a music student at Leeds Arts University specialising in vocals. He wanted more experience interacting with older people as he is looking to go into music therapy as a career. He’d lived in student accommodation he found very expensive and really small ‘like a cell’ on a corridor with other students who didn’t speak to him.

He said: ‘I have been lucky to be matched with Margaret who is a great housemate. In my last student accommodation I felt very isolated and my flat mates were very untidy, the kitchen was a mess all the time and I didn’t like cooking in there. It’s so much better living at Margaret’s. She’s a very caring person, I enjoy her company and like spending time with her.’

Leeds City Council’s executive member for health, wellbeing and adults, Cllr Rebecca Charlwood, said the schemebrings old and young together ‘in a way which benefits both’.

‘We welcome applications from people interested in the scheme – especially householders – so if you are a person with a spare room, or a young person looking for somewhere to live, please consider Homeshare. It might be right up your street!’

To find out more about the scheme, visit the council’s website.