Your local authority provides children's services, education, adult social care, housing support, cultural and leisure services (e.g. libraries, sports development), a children's disability register, a parent partnership service, a Learning Disability Partnership Board and a Portage early years service. Some of these services may be provided by your county council and some by your local district council. There is also a "Shared Lives Scheme" which is all about just that - sharing lives. Many adults cannot live on their own without help and support from others. This may be because they have a physical or learning disability, mental health needs or because they are older and have become frail. Shared Lives carers offer vulnerable adults the support and encouragement they need to live as independently as possible. Shared Lives can also offer you a short break so that your main carer can have a break. A break can be anything from a couple of hours to several weeks, whatever is needed.