Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

Sometimes also called a 'circle of friends', this is a group of people who act as a community around a person who needs help and support. The person themselves remains in control. The group may include the person's family, friends and other supportive people from the community they live in. They are not paid, and their role is to help the person do the things they want to do and plan for new events in their life.