SUPPORT agencies from around the county have teamed up for the launch of a new platform highlighting the core role of lived experience.

Wednesday saw the official launch of Lived Experience Voices with an event at Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal.

Local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) support agencies including Emerging Futures CIC, Manna House, Cumbria, CADAS, Growing Well, Love Barrow Families, Mind in Furness, Age UK South Lakeland, The Well Communities, LGB&T Out in the Bay and Lancashire Sport joined together to launch Cumbria and Lancashire Lived Experience Voice forums in 2023.

The aim is to ensure that the voices and opinions of People Of Lived Experience (POLEs) are heard and that they are instrumental in the shaping, designing and delivery of their services and community engagement.

POLEs are people with addiction, offending, family members, trauma and mental health experiences.

In partnership with the NIHR (National Institute of Clinical Health Research), this workstream will ensure that services are delivered to people by the people of lived experience.

The event had guest speakers such as David Higham, CEO of The Well Communities, Colin Cox, Director of Public Health and Communities and Alison Tooby, CEO of Love Barrow Families.

The guests spoke about Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs), third-sector organisations and People of Lived Experience.

Kerrie Higham MBE, Director of Operations at The Well Communities, said at the event: "One of the things you can do on this earth is to let people know that they are not alone.

"From someone who has got lived experience of addiction and recovery that was the single most important thing for me in my recovery journey and all the services I have accessed were given by human beings who let me know that I wasn't on my own and that is a starting point for all of us with lived experiences."

David Higham, CEO of The Well Communities, said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The event championed how LEROs are an integral part of the treatment system.

"To have so many influential people at that event is just a real testament to the impact of the work of The Well and how we make changes in our community and create environments where people can overcome crime and addiction."