I live in my own apartment alongside the Thames in London. I got my apartment through a shared ownership scheme with Notting Hill Home Ownership. Shared ownership means I bought a percentage of the property with a mortgage and then pay subsidised rent on the rest. I have the option of increasing my share later on to 100% if I so wish. It’s a great way to get your wheel on the property-ramp!
I used to live in a hostel during my college years where 24-hour care was provided. At first I didn’t want to live there since I was away from my family and I was the youngest resident there. At the same time I was at an age where I valued my independence and being close to friends.
I then moved to University and lived in Halls of Residence. Social Services paid for an adjacent room in my flat so I could have a 24×7 Personal Care Assistant with me. During my university days I used an agency to provide my care.
After graduating I moved to London and my first place to live was a studio flat near Heathrow. It was only supposed to be short term but it took quite a while to find somewhere more suitable to live and within my budget.
Since University I’ve used Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund (ILF) to fund my Care. I now employ two Personal Care Assistant’s for myself, which means I am a registered employer with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and am responsible for payroll and collecting and paying taxes and national insurance. Employing my own people gives me the freedom of who to employ and the working arrangements, however, it can be tricky in dealing with issues or if someone goes off sick.
