About the Platform
This platform is a toolkit to introduce organisations and individuals to a Lived Experience Model. This is an approach that focuses on learning from people who have faced diverse life challenges.
Organisations: Tips, resources and insights. Improve the way you plan, deliver, and evaluate your services.
Individuals: Learn how to use your experiences to help others. Information about job and volunteering opportunities.
This toolkit offers guidance by sharing knowledge, highlighting benefits, and giving practical advice. Supported by WCVA and the Welsh Government. Scroll down to learn more about lived experience and how to use this toolkit.
What is a Lived Experience Model?
Lived experience doesn’t mean one specific thing. It’s about the experiences of people who have been affected by certain social issues.
As a model, the ‘lived experience’ approach means working with people who have faced challenges. These are current or past service users who have insights into the way you work.
This approach helps with service design, evaluation, and delivery. It uses techniques that engage service users and enable you to codesign services.
This will help bring new ideas and challenge old ways of thinking. Services will be more focused on the needs of individuals.
Scroll down to learn more about the benefits of using a Lived Experience Model.
How to use this Toolkit
This toolkit provides organisations with introductory information, best practices, and useful tips. We understand that your work and services vary, and will direct you to specific resources where possible.
Please visit Organisations
As an individual this model lets you share your insights to help improve services. Your experiences can help organisations deliver services that are more effective and compassionate. Find resources to help you get involved and share your story. You might find a career path where you can use your life experience to help others.
Please visit Individuals
The Benefits of a Lived Experience Model
Understanding your users
People with lived experience can share their real-life experiences of using the service.
Organisations can see things from a user’s perspective.
This helps them to better understand their users’ needs.
Reaching out and building trust
Sometimes, it can be hard to connect with people who might need help.
If there are people on the team that understand their challenges it makes it easier to build trust.
This helps people access the services that they need.
Responsive services
Organisations can become more efficient and person-centred when they understand personal challenges.
A more inclusive team
Including people with lived experience breaks down stereotypes and creates a diverse team.
This benefits everyone!
Testimonials
“With their guidance and support, I registered my cleaning company in January 2019 and with the help of grants was able to purchase cleaning products and public liability insurance. I have been up and running ever since.” – Bev
Read more about Bev’s story
“I am very happy with St Giles.
His caseworker has always been supportive and helped. She listens and I am very grateful for all the support she has given to us.” – Harry’s mum
Read more about Harry’s story
Discover the Toolkit
About St. Giles
We’re St Giles, we help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a positive future.
We’re a national charity using real-life past experiences to provide advice, training and support to people facing challenges today.
Our Approach: People Helping People
We believe that people who have been through difficult times are best placed to help others.
Our Peer Advisor Programme trains people with lived experience to become mentors and advisors.
They help guide others towards a brighter future.
Side by Side: A Smarter Way to Help
Our Side by Side initiative is a smart and effective way to help people.
We place people with lived experience at the heart of our services.
This creates positive change in communities across the country.
