The Lived Experience Network Group
The Lived Experience Network (LEN) host a mixture of online drop-in sessions and themed workshops. Monthly meetings on Zoom!
Lived experience is much more than just an experience of mental illness. It includes an understanding of marginalisation, oppression and discrimination because of our lived experience, and subsequently, our identities. How do we use our lived experience to challenge power imbalances and allow us to create a more collaborative and authentic relationship with friends and family, co-workers and colleagues, and service providers and receivers?
The stigma of being labelled with a diagnosis, and the accompanying narratives often leads to service providers and commissioners adopting what can feel like a “us and them” demeanour.
LEN will be a space where lived experience can be celebrated and highly valued. This co-created forum will explore how lived experience can provide therapeutic and healing possibilities, as well as challenge the stigma and misconceptions of living with a mental illness diagnosis.
The network will be facilitated by Neels and Vikki. Together we can build a space to provide peer support and gain a better understanding of ourselves, accepting our identity and lived experience as a valuable resource. We can share paid and voluntary opportunities around training, research and publishing, support groups, activities and much more!
If you would like to be on the mailing list, or to find out more information email
admin@therapeuticcommunities.org
Facilitators
Neelam Khawani-Connett
Neels is a TC Specialist practising in therapeutic communities, relational care, group facilitation, training, and peer support.
With a strong belief in co-production, she has created therapeutic spaces for mental health practitioners and recipients of services across the world centered around relational working, reflective practice, greencare, arts, journaling, poetry, and music.
Drawing from her own life challenges, Neels is skilled at guiding others through the therapeutic process and promoting relational practice.
She is a Group Facilitator at Mosaic Therapeutic Community in India, CCQI (College Centre for Quality Improvement) Assessor for the Royal College of Psychiatrists – London, Chair & Director of Growing Better Lives, and a Trustee for both The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities and Community Housing & Therapy.
Vikki H
Vikki is Lived Experience Co-ordinator at CHT, working to develop their Experts by Experience programme.
Her current journey began with volunteering as a Peer Supporter in women’s substance use services. Since then, she has worked as a Co-production and Engagement Worker, mentoring people with experience of multiple disadvantage (combined homelessness, mental health issues, substance use, domestic abuse and interaction with the criminal justice system), as a Lived Experience Trauma Informed Trainer in the NHS co-facilitating training for staff, a Peer Trainer in Recovery College co-facilitating psychoeducational groups for people who had experienced trauma, and as Research and Learning Officer within a systems change team.
The Lived Experience Drop-in Review
Exciting News from the Lived Experience Network!
Today we hosted our very first drop-in session, and it was a success!
Members loved the flexibility of popping in and out as their schedules allowed, without needing to commit to the full 90 minutes.
We also had an important conversation about what “drop-in” really means and how the anxiety of joining group spaces can feel overwhelming and scary.
Many of us carry a question from past trauma and negative experiences: Will this space, and the people in it, be safe for me? There was comfort in knowing a bit about the co-facilitators and seeing familiar faces on screen, but we all manage anxiety in our own ways. Members shared tips on how they prepare, psych themselves and navigate these feelings ahead of joining groups, or new spaces.
We celebrated one member starting a new paid role (congrats!), while others had valuable conversations about bridging the gap to employment. We discussed how to find inspiration, seek opportunities, and access training—whether paid or voluntary.
A key theme was role modelling, seeing lived experience in action! Members shared examples of how they’re making an impact: training, facilitating, mentoring, research, activism, publishing, and more. These roles go beyond mental health, touching on neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, homelessness, addictions, and other important areas we’ve faced on our journeys.
We also talked about the best times for future sessions and how we can make them more accessible for everyone. Keep an eye out for a survey—your input is key!
Thanks to everyone who joined for an inspiring session full of ideas, support, and co-production—just the way we like it!
Looking forward to seeing you all next month!
2025 LEN Calendar
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