User-led organisations – information, funding, resources
19 May 2022
Welcome to our user-led groups page. We list user-led organisations on our website, but this post is for funding opportunities and useful information, as well as welcoming any new additions to our listings. This page will be updated regularly but for the most up to date information sign up to our newsletters. New listings –… Continue reading User-led organisations – information, funding, resources
NEW resources: Digital Communication Technology in Social Work
17 May 2022
Shaping Our Lives was pleased to work in conjunction with King’s College London and the British Association of Social Workers on a recent project to explore the use of digital technology to facilitate communication between Disabled people and social workers. The research was prompted by the major shift to digital communication (for example, Zoom, Teams,… Continue reading NEW resources: Digital Communication Technology in Social Work
Seven essentials for effective involvement
11 May 2022
Shaping Our Lives is a non-profit, user-led organisation. We’ve been working for over twenty years on inclusive involvement, enabling people from diverse and seldom heard groups to have their say in the services that affect their lives. We’ve done a lot of research into what makes involvement inclusive and how to remove the barriers to… Continue reading Seven essentials for effective involvement
Featured poet – Amander Wellings
28 April 2022
Amander has kindly shared her poem Change the World with us, and written a little bit about her and her writing journey. Every month we send out a bulletin with arts, culture, and poetry from diverse communities. Sign up now. My name is Amander Wellings – yes I know it’s a weird spelling, blame my… Continue reading Featured poet – Amander Wellings
Overcoming the barriers
13 April 2022
If you’re in charge of public involvement, co production, or service user participation, hopefully you’ll be keen to make sure you talk to a wide range of people, including those who are from diverse communities. Involving people from seldom heard and marginalised groups has never been easy, and whether you want to consult, involve, engage… Continue reading Overcoming the barriers
Meet Raj, one of our national user group members
12 April 2022
Shaping Our Lives has been a user-led organisation for over 20 years. That means we are led by Disabled people who make up our National User Group. One of our User Group members is Raj Mehta- trusted advisor, experience procumbent and IT Business leader. In this interview Raj talks about his experience as a blind… Continue reading Meet Raj, one of our national user group members
Featured performer: Rona Topaz
30 March 2022
Rona is a Disabled performer who has mobility and hearing impairments. She has forged a career in the performing arts, and here writes about her career path, the challenges she has faced and overcome, and what performing means to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse… Continue reading Featured performer: Rona Topaz
Spotlight on: The PIER Partnership at Bournemouth University
17 March 2022
In this post, Dr Mel Hughes from Bournemouth University reflects on their work in the PIER Partnership, and asks – Does the system need to change to facilitate more inclusive involvement? What we do: Much of the work I do involves drawing on the expertise of people with lived experience. I am an Associate Professor… Continue reading Spotlight on: The PIER Partnership at Bournemouth University
Poem; Shaping Our Lives Celebrates
10 March 2022
This year we celebrate with a big hooray, Since 20 plus years have passed, When this unique organisation of stature, Responded to the question being asked, Where are those service user led groups of calibre? There’s far too few, far too few, So began a momentous journey, the lack to fix, A journey that’s attracted… Continue reading Poem; Shaping Our Lives Celebrates
What we’ve achieved
8 March 2022
2002 –the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and when the Euro became the official currency of 12 EU members. It was also the year Shaping Our Lives was officially constituted. Our constitution didn’t make front page news, but nevertheless, we have spent the last two decades (and more) working hard to ensure the voices… Continue reading What we’ve achieved
20 years (and more) of Shaping Our Lives
7 March 2022
As the Beatles sang, it was 20 years ago, Sergeant Pepper told the band to play, but as we celebrate 20 years of Shaping Our Lives, it was actually a bit longer ago than that our Sergeant Pepper, Peter Beresford with a little help from some friends, told our band to play. While it’s two… Continue reading 20 years (and more) of Shaping Our Lives
Featured artist: Jem Clancy
22 February 2022
Jem is a dancer and an artist from Leeds. She is autistic and has a passion for inclusive dance and inclusive art. Here, in her own words, she tells Shaping Our Lives what matters to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse communities, sign up to… Continue reading Featured artist: Jem Clancy
For the better
A poem by our Vice Chair Graham Price, about the research project he is involved in with Birmingham and Bristol Universities. The research will examine what difference social workers make to older people and carers’ lives and how they do this. (Find out more about the Social Work with Older People research). We’re looking to… Continue reading For the better
Press release – 16 February 2022
16 February 2022
Tickboxes and tokenism? Shaping Our Lives publishes new report on involving people from marginalized communities Shaping Our Lives has today published Tickboxes and Tokenism: Service user involvement report 2022 – exploring deaf and Disabled people’s experiences of being involved in planning and delivering services such as health and social care. Service user engagement (also referred… Continue reading Press release – 16 February 2022
Poem: Welcome the New Year
5 January 2022
A poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. We’re again beginning,We’ve not been here beforeResolutions for our keepingMaybe, if only we knew what was in store Yes it’s a New Year to savourPredictions leapfrog one another, Kept for the record without favour,Denying chance change one for the other… Continue reading Poem: Welcome the New Year
Diary reflections, seasons greetings
15 December 2021
A poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. I’ve a voracious diary It eats up all my days Even jostles to determine priority Clearly has very bad ways How best to cope with this assault Maybe to be less open and… Continue reading Diary reflections, seasons greetings
International Day of Disabled People – or is it?
3 December 2021
December 3rd 2021 marks what is now termed as the International Day of People with Disabilities, although it was not always known as this. When this day was first established in 1992, it was known as the International Day of Disabled Persons. This previous name reflected a social model understanding of disability. But as many… Continue reading International Day of Disabled People – or is it?
Surely it’s time to let me out?
A poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. Graham began writing poetry during the UK COVID lockdown in 2020. I want to write, to dance, to work, to play, even to muck about Surely it’s time to let me out, really let me out, I want to shout… Continue reading Surely it’s time to let me out?
A tribute to Michael Shamash
18 November 2021
We were recently deeply saddened by the loss of Michael Shamash, one of our Directors, a colleague and friend. Michael was a member of our National User Group and then a Director for the last four years, and always brought humour, insight and dignity to our work. We share with you today a touching obituary,… Continue reading A tribute to Michael Shamash
Shaping Our Lives call for participants in the Creating Care Partnerships project
5 November 2021
Can you help us design the Creating Care Partnerships project? Shaping Our Lives, as part of a partnership led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, are developing research teams in three locations which will bring together academic, practice professionals and people with lived experience. The partnerships aim to reduce the gap between… Continue reading Shaping Our Lives call for participants in the Creating Care Partnerships project
High Court is told government must rewrite its National Disability Strategy
The government could be forced to rewrite its National Disability Strategy, if four disabled campaigners are successful in their bid to persuade the high court that the document is unlawful. Yesterday (Wednesday), their legal team attempted to persuade the court, through a judicial review, that work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey failed to carry out… Continue reading High Court is told government must rewrite its National Disability Strategy
Shaping our Lives is excited to be launching our new website
26 October 2021
Funding from the National Lottery Community Fund has enabled us here at Shaping Our Lives to refresh and revise our vision and mission, including developing a new website to better showcase who we are and what we do. We believe the inclusive involvement of Disabled people and people from other marginalised communities is critical to… Continue reading Shaping our Lives is excited to be launching our new website
Disability Rights UK (DR UK) is recruiting two Policy and Campaigns Officers
25 October 2021
Disability Rights UK (DR UK) is recruiting two Policy and Campaigns Officers to work with Disabled People’s Organisations, Disabled people and allies, to influence policy and services, and effect change for Disabled people. The job description and person specification can be accessed by clicking here. To apply, please send your current CV together with a… Continue reading Disability Rights UK (DR UK) is recruiting two Policy and Campaigns Officers
A tribute to Michael Shamash
18 October 2021
Shaping Our Lives members are extremely sad and feeling an enormous sense of loss at the sudden death of Michael Shamash who had been one of our National User Group members and then a Director for the last four years. We wanted to share with you some of our thoughts and memories of someone who… Continue reading A tribute to Michael Shamash
Shaping future support: the health and disability green paper – Consultation response from the DPO Forum England
6 October 2021
September 2021 About us The DPO Forum England brings together disabled people’s organisations (DPO’s) across England to work collectively to act as the voice of disabled people. The DPO forum offers a unique and valuable perspective, as the members are all DPO’s that are majority run and controlled by and for disabled people. We are… Continue reading Shaping future support: the health and disability green paper – Consultation response from the DPO Forum England
Be at the heart of exciting new social work research with service users – and gain valuable CPD hours.
5 October 2021
Shaping our Lives , together with the British Association of Social Workers and Kings College London, is collaborating on a research project about how social workers who work with adults use (or do not use) digital technologies when communicating with and supporting Disabled people. We want to understand the pros and cons in the use… Continue reading Be at the heart of exciting new social work research with service users – and gain valuable CPD hours.
New blog post: The Future of Social Care – Big changes now taking place
6 September 2021
Our Co-Chair, Peter Beresford, considers the government announcement on its social care reform plans and looks at how it differs to the thinking and planning around social care we have been developing at Shaping Our Lives. The Future of Social Care – Big changes now taking place Two closely related but very different activities have… Continue reading New blog post: The Future of Social Care – Big changes now taking place
Edge Hill University: Lockdown Logs
26 August 2021
In the Spring of 2020, the Service Users and Carers (SU&Cs) at Edge Hill University in the north of England decided to keep and share logs about their thoughts, feelings and experiences during lockdown. Their lockdown logs included drawings, prose, poetry, photos and videos. You can browse through an edited version of the lockdown logs… Continue reading Edge Hill University: Lockdown Logs