'Caring for David has enriched our own family'

David, 59, lives with Carol and Jim Culley at their home in Staveley, Derbyshire

"David would have got lost if he'd have gone in a formal setting," say a husband and wife who for the last three years have shared their home with a man who has learning disabilities.

Carol and Jim Culley are part of the Shared Lives project, which has seen them take in David, 59, who needed care after the death of his mother.

The retired couple, from Staveley in Derbyshire, say David is the latest adult to live with them in an arrangement that allows him to have a degree of independence while remaining safe.

Mrs Culley says she is proud of the progress David has made since he moved in with the couple and has urged others to follow their lead.

David says the best thing about living with the couple is "Carol's amazing pies"

David has a number of passions in his life: His beloved Sheffield Wednesday, Carol's "amazing" pies and his collection of colouring books.

He is responsible for keeping his own room clean and tidy, and helps the couple with jobs around the house and garden.

Mr Culley, a retired mineworker, says David "lets you know if he doesn't like something".

"He tells you he's not doing it," the 72-year-old added.

His 68-year-old wife said David had enriched their lives.

"If David wasn't here we probably wouldn't get up as early," she said.

"We get up to take him to his day centre. It's day-to-day things. We think - we'll take David here or we're going to do that.

"We make an effort to do things".

David enjoyed family holidays with his late parents, Janet and Ray

Derbyshire County Council runs the Shared Lives scheme, with carers provided with training and support, and paid depending on the type of support they offer

Earlier in his life David lived with his parents Janet and Ray, but his father found it increasingly hard to care for his son after Janet died.

The Culleys initially offered short-term respite care for David but Mrs Culley says he is now a firm part of their family.

"I think it's nice that we've seen our children and our grandchildren grow up to be kind, caring people," she said.

"Because it's taught them to be kind and they realise that life isn't just like it is on television, that there's people with different disabilities."