An appetite for change? – Patient experiences of nutrition and hydration

11 March 2024

Ann Nutt was a former member of the Shaping Our Lives National User Group, and Graham Price is a current director. Ann is chair of the Patient Panel at her local Hospital and Graham is a member of the nutrition and hydration group at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust. Staying hydrated and eating well… Continue reading An appetite for change? – Patient experiences of nutrition and hydration

Organising inclusive and accessible events: our top tips

18 February 2024

In November 2022, we hosted Thinking Outside the (Tick) Box, a hybrid service user-led conference to share learning from marginalised communities about how to make involvement inclusive and effective. In this blog, we reflect on some of the key lessons we learnt from organising a conference like this for the first time, as well as… Continue reading Organising inclusive and accessible events: our top tips

What is co-production?

7 January 2024

Co-production is a type of involvement in a whole spectrum of involvement methods and approaches. Whilst it has recently become a bit of a buzzword in health and social care, the idea of co-production has been around since the 1960s and has its roots in the Disabled people’s rights movement. While there are many definitions… Continue reading What is co-production?

Towards the better, 2024

31 December 2023

We’re delighted to share this poem written by Graham Price, one of our Directors. Happy New Year to all our supporters, colleagues, and friends! With apprehension, out goes the old,Without hesitation, in comes the new,All, ducking  the travails for-told,Besetting many, possibly you. then, wrought havoc and chaos for too many folk,Now, hopefully ushers in a… Continue reading Towards the better, 2024

Seven essentials for effective involvement

23 November 2023

Shaping Our Lives is a non-profit, user-led organisation. We’ve been working for over twenty years on inclusive and effective 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… Continue reading Seven essentials for effective involvement

Effective service user involvement – how to build trust

20 November 2023

When it comes to effective and inclusive involvement, trust is crucial to enable people with lived experience to feel comfortable to share their stories. This is especially vital for those who have experienced discrimination, trauma, or denial of services, and for those from communities that have a low level of engagement with services. How do… Continue reading Effective service user involvement – how to build trust

Developing an Inclusive Approach to Research at Liverpool Hope University

Shaping Our Lives were recently pleased to facilitate a workshop at Liverpool Hope University involving the Service User Group at Hope (SUGaH+) alongside academic staff from the Social Work team and wider School of Social Sciences. The aim of the workshop was to talk about what would make a great research team, gathering ideas from… Continue reading Developing an Inclusive Approach to Research at Liverpool Hope University

Meet the team – Alice Young

6 November 2023

We’re delighted to welcome Alice to our team as our new (and first ever) Chief Executive Officer. Tell us a bit about yourself  I’m a proud mother to my son who celebrated his first birthday the week I joined Shaping Our Lives. I live on our beautiful boat with my partner and our beloved sausage… Continue reading Meet the team – Alice Young

Key questions for inclusive involvement

31 October 2023

In our twenty plus years of working in the field of service user involvement, people tell us again and again that they want to share their lived experience, but that involvement activities must be inclusive and meaningful. They want to contribute to something that has the potential to make positive change, and want to know… Continue reading Key questions for inclusive involvement

What’s in it for me? – involvement benefits

14 October 2023

When yet another survey request pings into your inbox, do you immediately press delete? Do you pass by that poster in your GP surgery, asking for participants for their patient forum? Ever considered responding to a consultation, only to think twice? What’s the point, right? They’ll just take your time, your opinions, and carry on… Continue reading What’s in it for me? – involvement benefits

Overcoming the barriers to involvement

13 October 2023

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 to involvement

Setting up service user involvement groups for social work and social care education

20 September 2023

Shaping Our Lives have supported several universities to develop their service user involvement in social work education and across health and social science courses. The work usually comprises a number of meetings and facilitated workshops with the academic staff and service users. Sometimes Shaping Our Lives recruits a group of people to take part. On… Continue reading Setting up service user involvement groups for social work and social care education

Social care workshop with the University of Hertfordshire

13 September 2023

Shaping Our Lives are working with the University of Hertfordshire on a project about social care research. We are facilitating a social care advisory group, which includes people who: The group will share their experiences of research and/or using social care services to support researchers involved in the SCRiPT study (Social Care Research in Practice… Continue reading Social care workshop with the University of Hertfordshire

Meet Raj, one of our national user group members

12 September 2023

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

Timing is everything

29 August 2023

Short deadlines, tight turnarounds, late-stage applications, and last-minute plans – we advise against them. Not because of pressure – because of accessibility. Did you know timing can be a key accessibility issue? Here we explore the different ways timing is vital for inclusive involvement. In this blog: Involvement recruitment deadlines and participant preparation time You’re… Continue reading Timing is everything

Tips for the future

2 August 2023

This is the seventh in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  In the Shaping Our lives report on the research project, we offer… Continue reading Tips for the future

Learning from our different experience

20 July 2023

This is the sixth in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  Shaping Our Lives’ collaboration with King’s College London was a positive learning… Continue reading Learning from our different experience

User led research meets traditional research: lessons to learn

11 July 2023

This is the fifth in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  I’ve always thought a key reason why we got funding for this… Continue reading User led research meets traditional research: lessons to learn

A different kind of research

5 July 2023

This is the fourth in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  While it might not be an obvious priority for groups facing oppression,… Continue reading A different kind of research

Starting with history

27 June 2023

This is the third in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  Hello again, We’d started to talk about research and next I want… Continue reading Starting with history

A chance to develop a research partnership

20 June 2023

This is the second in a series of blogs by Peter Beresford about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research.  Something special This is a story about a research collaboration; a collaboration… Continue reading A chance to develop a research partnership

Research made simple?

7 June 2023

By Peter Beresford This is the first in a series of blogs about a research project which Shaping Our Lives has carried out jointly with King’s College London. You can also read a report we have written about the project, Match Making In Research but the aim of these blogs is to offer an introduction,… Continue reading Research made simple?

Meet the team – Becki

23 May 2023

This week we’re chatting with Becki Meakin, the Shaping Our Lives Involvement Manager. Becki has worked for Shaping Our Lives for over a decade, and brings her lived experience as a blind woman into her role. Tell us a bit about yourself I was born in a tiny hamlet called Ellenhall in Staffordshire. I lived… Continue reading Meet the team – Becki

Accessibility – more than just step-free

18 May 2023

You may find these other blogs helpful too: When the topic of accessibility is raised, many people automatically think of ramps, lifts, and grab rails. While those physical adaptations are important, making activities inclusive requires more than step-free access.   If you want to make your activities truly accessible, then you need to be aware… Continue reading Accessibility – more than just step-free

Blog 16 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

18 April 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog sixteen is by Ulla-Karin Schön is Professor in social work at Stockholm University in Sweden. In this last blog within the framework of putting together the BJSW… Continue reading Blog 16 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

No longer ashamed

16 April 2023

This is a guest blog written for Shaping Our Lives by Lynda Hills, a PDH student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Trigger warning: This post contains mention of attempted suicide. “In 2009, after years of struggle, I overdosed and jumped off a bridge. Fortunately, I didn’t die, but I was left crippled and… Continue reading No longer ashamed

Blog 15 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

30 March 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog fifteen is by Mel Hughes, Associate Professor in social work at Bournemouth University, Academic lead for the PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research) Partnership and… Continue reading Blog 15 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

User-led groups in our network

8 March 2023

Did you know that Shaping Our Lives is a user-led organisation? That means we are run by and for the people we support. In our work on the Future of user-led organisations, with the National Survivor User Network (NSUN), we defined user-led groups in terms of value, power, and knowledge: We have a network of… Continue reading User-led groups in our network

“I’m proud of myself for even applying”

2 March 2023

Shaping Our Lives recently worked on a project where Disabled people led the research and coproduced the resources. Their feedback, shared here anonymously, demonstrates the powerful benefits that inclusive involvement can have. As well as this project leading to excellent resources for Disabled people, these lay researchers in turn found emotional and psychological benefits for… Continue reading “I’m proud of myself for even applying”

Blog 14 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

1 March 2023

01 March 2023 This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW). Blog fourteen is by Frank Golding. The lived experience of trauma such as child sexual abuse is sometimes described as historical. In contemplating how… Continue reading Blog 14 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 13 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

21 February 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog thirteen is by Omar Mohamed, Children and Families Social Worker, Lecturer and Researcher Adaptations towards a global perspective As mentioned in the previous blog by Peter, ¼ of… Continue reading Blog 13 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Meet the team – Roxane

7 February 2023

We’re proud to be user-led and have a variety of staff, associates, and National User Group members all contributing their knowledge and lived experience to our work. In today’s blog, we talk to Roxane, one of our associates. Tell us a bit about yourself  I am an inclusion and involvement consultant and trainer. I’ve been… Continue reading Meet the team – Roxane

Another brick in the wall

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog thirteen is by Peter Beresford, Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia and Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives. In the words and music of the wonderful Pointer… Continue reading Another brick in the wall

Blog 12 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

24 January 2023

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience issue of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog twelve is by Peter Unwin, Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Worcester. Recent weeks have been a time of much excitement and hard work for… Continue reading Blog 12 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 11 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

6 December 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog eleven is by Dr Frank Golding OAM, an Honorary Research Fellow at Federation University Australia. Care records often help Care leavers understand their childhood. Some find information about… Continue reading Blog 11 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 10 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

22 November 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog ten is by Dr. Lia Levin [levinlia@tauex.tau.ac.il] is a senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University’s School of Social Work, and a researcher and advocate of co-production in… Continue reading Blog 10 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

A tribute to Jeremy Browne

16 November 2022

We at Shaping Our Lives were shocked and saddened by the passing of Jeremy Browne last month. Jeremy was one of our National User group members. He was a retired solicitor specialising in family law and was Chair of the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers. As part of Shaping Our Lives Jeremy helped to guide… Continue reading A tribute to Jeremy Browne

Blog 9 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

9 November 2022

Reflections as a new social worker in practice on epistemic injustice This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog nine is by Omar Mohamed, Children and Families Social Worker, Lecturer and Researcher Now having entered… Continue reading Blog 9 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Thinking Outside the (Tick)box

We were delighted at how our conference Thinking Outside the (Tick)box went last week – the UK’s first user-led Inclusive Involvement conference. Shaping Our Lives has a very small team of staff and associates, so the day wouldn’t have been possible without lots of hard work from them, plus the invaluable help from volunteers and… Continue reading Thinking Outside the (Tick)box

Blog 8 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

11 October 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog eight is by Peter Beresford, Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia and Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives A Defining Moment One of the lessons I’ve… Continue reading Blog 8 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 7 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

4 October 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog seven is by Peter Unwin, Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Worcester I am a fan of co-production and believe that an authentic approach… Continue reading Blog 7 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 6 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

7 September 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog six is by Ulla-Karin Schön, Professor in Social Work at Stockholm University, Sweden Being one of the guest editors of the special issue of the British Journal… Continue reading Blog 6 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Why health inequalities need to be addressed for the specific community

29 July 2022

This guest post was kindly contributed by Sukhjeen Kaur (She/Her), Founder/Director of Chronically Brown Within healthcare, we have all been impacted by the ‘one size fits all’ approach implemented by the National Health Services. We understand and are aware that individuals are individual which need to be treated as such. More recently, ‘health inequalities’ have become… Continue reading Why health inequalities need to be addressed for the specific community

Blog 5 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

28 July 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog five is by Frank Golding I grew up in out-of-home care in Australia, silent and silenced. I left the system carrying powerful memories and emotional baggage: resentment… Continue reading Blog 5 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 4 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

13 July 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog four is by Lia Levin Whenever I tell people (be they service-users, academics, professionals, or even people from outside the social work discipline) about the special issue… Continue reading Blog 4 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue series

Blog 3 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

29 June 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog three is by Omar Mohamed. Throughout being a Guest Editor for the academic papers category, I find myself in a position of shaping identity through both a… Continue reading Blog 3 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

Blog 2 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

21 June 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog two is by Mel Hughes. We find ourselves in the privileged position this week of having received 140 submissions for the special issue of the British Journal… Continue reading Blog 2 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

Blog 1 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

7 June 2022

This is part of a series of blogs kindly contributed by the editorial group working on the lived experience edition of the British Journal of Social Work. Blog one is by Peter Beresford The special issue of the British Journal of Social Work: Voice and Influence of people with lived experience represents another significant marker… Continue reading Blog 1 – British Journal of Social Work lived experience issue

Featured poet: Andreena Leeanne

28 April 2022

Andreena is a writer, poet, and lived experience speaker. She speaks passionately and accessibly about intersectionality, discrimination, authenticity, and allyship. We had a great chat with her about her book Charred – A survivor speaks her truth to inspire. Did you know that charred wood is actually stronger? Neither did we! As Andreena explained, the… Continue reading Featured poet: Andreena Leeanne

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

Featured author – Hannah Pearl

14 March 2022

I was diagnosed with ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2017. Whilst some people have heard of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, like many sufferers, I prefer the term ME because fatigue is only one of the symptoms that I can experience, although for me it is one of the most difficult to manage. The fatigue can be… Continue reading Featured author – Hannah Pearl

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

Featured poet – Amander Wellings

7 March 2022

Amander Wellings 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… Continue reading Featured poet – Amander Wellings

20 years (and more) of Shaping Our Lives

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 poet – David Gilbert

24 February 2022

We’re delighted to feature this poem by David Gilbert. As well as being a poet, David is a leading thinker and doer in the field of patient and public engagement – co-founder of The Centre for Patient Leadership, and Director of InHealth Associates. He is a former mental health service user and has 35 years… Continue reading Featured poet – David Gilbert

For the better

22 February 2022

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

Spotlight on: Diverse City – change through the arts

Many thanks to Diverse City for writing this guest post about their work in increasing and supporting diversity in the performing arts. If you want to read more about diverse arts, culture, poetry, theatre, music and more please sign up to our newsletter. Diverse City is a performing arts charity based in Dorset with a… Continue reading Spotlight on: Diverse City – change through the arts

Featured author: Lorna Collins

21 February 2022

A big thank you to author Lorna Collins who wrote this guest post for us about her writing. I wrote my new book, ‘Squawk: A Book of Bird Adventures’, in response to the extraordinary, colourful, hallucinatory experiences I have, which respond to my damaged brain. When I was 18 (23 years ago) I had a… Continue reading Featured author: Lorna Collins

Spotlight on: The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)

20 February 2022

Shaping Our Lives focuses on inclusive involvement, especially when it comes to services, like health and social care, and research studies. But what about consumer products, the things we buy in shops, the technology we use, the cars we drive, and the holidays we take? RiDC ensures that disabled and older consumers are heard by… Continue reading Spotlight on: The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC)

Featured artist: Jem Clancy

14 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

Featured poet: Francesca Frawley

7 February 2022

Many thanks to poet Francesca (who also writes under the pen name Emma Price, for sharing this blog and two poems with us). If you enjoy poetry, art, music, and theatre from diverse and excluded communities, then sign up to our Hear Me out ebulletin. My mum always jokes that I started writing before I… Continue reading Featured poet: Francesca Frawley

Coming out is not the be all and end all of the queer experience

5 February 2022

Deenah al-Aqsa is on the board of Trustees for Hidayah LGBT, a user-led group in our directory, and is an award-nominated British Bengali journalist. Deenah recently wrote an illuminating article for The Metro about her experiences of being a Muslim lesbian. Her article shed light on the milestone of coming out as being Western social… Continue reading Coming out is not the be all and end all of the queer experience

Featured poet and artist: Tony Demoncy

17 January 2022

Tony Demoncy is a disabled poet and artist. A survivor of bullying, child sex abuse, psychiatric abuse and other traumatic events, he grew up in a house filled with books and art, and has read avidly on topics ranging from Science, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Disability Rights, and more. When a child, Tony’s mother tried to… Continue reading Featured poet and artist: Tony Demoncy

Promoting potential through Bollywood and Ballroom

16 January 2022

By Dr. Rashmi Becker, MBE. Founder, Step Change Studios I have always loved dance. There’s something empowering about expressing yourself through movement and music. Growing up with an older brother with severe Autism, I developed an understanding of a non-verbal world in which communication and self-expression can be presented without words. As an adult, as… Continue reading Promoting potential through Bollywood and Ballroom

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

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

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