Lived experience jobs

This is a leadership role within User Voice’s London team, managing two of our new flagship programmes focused on mentoring, volunteering, and community engagement for people with convictions. The Project Manager will lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of these initiatives, ensuring they meet strategic objectives and deliver meaningful impact for participants and stakeholders.

This role is ideal for someone with lived experience of the criminal justice system who is ready to take the next step in their career or is already leading complex projects and managing teams and partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of two new flagship programmes, ensuring high-quality outcomes and alignment with User Voice’s mission.
• Build and maintain relationships with prisons, probation services, community organizations, and research partners.
• Lead on the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers, ensuring their meaningful involvement in project delivery.
• Lead on data collection, analysis, and reporting to demonstrate impact and inform continuous improvement.
• Manage project budgets and resources effectively.
• Contribute to organizational learning and development, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Collaborate with other teams and contribute to wider User Voice initiatives as needed.

Person Specification

Essential:

• · Personal lived experience of the criminal justice system.
• · Proven experience in project management
• · Experience using project management tools and software
• · Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• · Experience of supporting and coordinating groups of volunteers.
• · Experience of supporting and managing staff.
• · Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• · Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• · A proactive, solutions-focused approach.

Desirable:

• · Experience of working with children, young adults or families affected by the justice system.
• · Knowledge of social research methods and data analysis.
• · Familiarity with the charity sector and/or criminal justice system.

The Hepatitis C Trust runs national projects where peers draw on their lived experience of drug use, criminal justice systems and hepatitis C to support others . We are now recruiting for a new and exciting role to join our Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan team. 

As part of an experienced team, this role will promote hepatitis C awareness, blood borne virus testing and referral to treatment, for people living with hepatitis C. The role will support volunteer peers and increase the project’s reach to underserved communities. You’ll be providing vital harm reduction interventions including needle, syringe and naloxone provision across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

We value creativity, innovation, and compassion. We encourage applications from people with lived experience. Full support, coaching and training will be given. 

Are you interested in meeting people and building relationships with supporters?   As a Community and Events Fundraiser for MyVision Oxfordshire, you will play an integral part of the fundraising team, leading on our work with supporters in the community and supporting the team to fulfil its income targets.

MyVision Oxfordshire is a long-established charity supporting anyone in the county living with sight loss.  We provide a range of services across Oxfordshire including information and advice, equipment provision, technology training, befriending, clubs and groups, children's events and much more.

This is a key role to develop and implement strategies to raise funds through community engagement and events. You will work with our fundraising team to identify opportunities, build relationships, and execute fundraising initiatives that support MyVision Oxfordshire’s objective of supporting visually impaired people in the county.

St James’s, Piccadilly is at an exciting moment in its 340-year history. Fundraising for the ‘Wren Project’, a £23m capital campaign, and plans for an endowment campaign, are well underway.

This new role will support the fundraising team, working closely with the Head of Fundraising, to provide full administrative support across all functions of the department. We are looking for someone committed to making a difference to our work and interested in developing a career in fundraising. We welcome experience gained outside the charity sector and interested in developing a career in fundraising.

St James’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

St James’s actively welcomes applications from people who are currently underrepresented in our community including people with global majority heritage, people with lived experience of poverty and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Role description and person specification can be downloaded from our website.

Please send full CV with a covering letter outlining your interest in the post and forward to Jane Gray, HR Advisor, by midday Monday 10th November 2025 (Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete an application form in due course – referee information is required.)

Interviews are planned for Thursday 20th November. Start date as soon as possible otherwise to commence in early January 2026.

Are you passionate about using innovation to make health services more inclusive? 

Do you have experience developing or leading projects that make a real difference for people facing health inequalities — including those affected by homelessness, substance use, or liver disease? 

We’re looking for a dynamic, creative and highly organised individual to join The Hepatitis C Trust as our new Innovation and Implementation Manager. This exciting new role will drive forward our Inclusion Health agenda, helping us design, deliver and scale peer-led services that put lived experience at the heart of change. 

About the role 

The Innovation and Implementation Manager will lead on embedding new models of care within health systems — ensuring our peer-led projects are effectively planned, delivered and sustained. You’ll work closely with NHS and community partners, line manage Peer Leads and Coordinators, and oversee key projects including: 

• Liver Health Peer Support, improving early detection and surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 

• Peer-led Needle and Syringe Provision (NSP) and wider harm reduction initiatives. 

You’ll manage project delivery, build strong partnerships, monitor outcomes, and share learning nationally to shape future approaches. 

About you 

We’re looking for someone who: 

• Has experience in project delivery, innovation, or service improvement within health, social care, or the voluntary sector. 

• Understands the value of peer-led and lived experience approaches. 

• Is confident managing teams and building relationships across diverse partners. 

• Has knowledge of Inclusion Health, harm reduction, and liver health. 

• Is organised, collaborative, and passionate about tackling health inequalities. 

Why join us? 

At The Hepatitis C Trust, lived experience drives everything we do. You’ll join a supportive, forward-thinking team working nationally to improve health outcomes for marginalised communities. We offer flexible working, a strong learning culture, and the chance to lead meaningful, innovative projects. 

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Contract: Permanent

Location: Based in our London office, E1, with the requirement to travel as needed. We are open to a range of flexible working options, in line with Crisis’ Hybrid-Working Policy.

About the role

As Trusts Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving the growth of Crisis’ income from charitable trusts, foundations, and lottery funders. Alongside managing a portfolio of high-value supporters, you’ll take the lead in identifying, cultivating, and securing new funding opportunities - building relationships with partners whose priorities align with Crisis’ mission to end homelessness.

Working closely with the Senior Trusts and Statutory Lead and the Head of Philanthropy and Development, you’ll help shape and deliver an ambitious fundraising strategy that balances sustainable partnership management with bold new business development. You’ll bring creativity and strategic insight to finding and engaging new funders, developing compelling propositions that open doors to long-term collaboration.

This is a relationship-driven role that blends strategic planning with hands-on delivery. You’ll produce persuasive proposals and reports, developing strong relationships with funders and trustees, and collaborating across Crisis to communicate our impact through compelling cases for support. You’ll also manage a healthy prospect pipeline - driving forward new relationships while ensuring the team meets its income targets and continues to grow its supporter base.

About you

You’re an experienced and confident fundraiser with a strong track record of securing significant gifts - at the five- or six-figure level - from charitable trusts, foundations, or statutory funders. You thrive on new business development: from researching and engaging cold prospects to building tailored, strategic relationships that grow into long-term partnerships.

You’re a persuasive communicator and strategic thinker, able to craft compelling proposals and deliver inspiring pitches that resonate with senior funders and trustees. You bring energy, curiosity, and resilience to prospecting — spotting opportunities others might miss and following them through to success.

Highly organised and results-oriented, you balance short-term delivery with a focus on sustainable growth. You’re confident using data and insight to guide your approach, measure progress, and refine your strategy. Above all, you’re motivated by Crisis’ mission and values — committed to equality, inclusion, and the belief that together, we can end homelessness for good.

If you want to learn more about the role, please contact our Talent Acquisition teamand we will arrange an informal chat with the Talent Acquisition Lead and/or Hiring Manager.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Tuesday 11th November 2025 23:59

Interview process: First stage is a panel interview with competency and values-based questions. If needed, we will have an informal stage two interview

Interview date and location:

• Stage one w/c 24th November 2025 in person at our offices in E1
• Stage two (if required): w/c 1st December 2025

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Accessibility 

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please contact our Talent Acquisition team will contact you to discuss how we can help. 

For more information about our work please visit

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

This is a terrific opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s public affairs strategy, driving meaningful change for people living with muscle wasting conditions across the UK. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering our political engagement work, ensuring our voice is heard by all four governments.

In parallel, you will lead our social inclusion policy agenda, initially focusing on improving financial security for people with muscle wasting conditions, with scope to expand into broader inclusion-related policy areas over time.

You’ll build strong relationships with politicians, civil servants, voluntary sector organisations, and other key stakeholders to grow our influence and impact.

Working collaboratively across departments – including Policy and Campaigns, Research, Services and Support, Communications, Fundraising, and our devolved nations leads - you’ll help deliver key strategic objectives. Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns, and line managing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you’ll play a vital role in driving change and improving lives.

About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK.

We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking with regular travel to Westminster)

Closing date: Sunday 2nd November October

Interview dates Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th November

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities

SLRA is a well-established local migrant support organisation working with and for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who are at risk or in crisis as a result of immigration issues. We provide specialist immigration advice (SLRA is regulated to provide advice at IAA Level 3) as well as a broad range of practical, social and therapeutic support services. SLRA also campaigns for a fairer immigration system, involving local people with lived experience in influencing local and national policy and practice.

We are looking for a Senior Immigration Advisor or Solicitor who will be responsible for the delivery of immigration advice and casework to service users in a wide range of circumstances, although most will be rough sleepers. The work will be varied and will cover a broad range of asylum and immigration issues, along with the opportunity to support advocacy work and to improve access to justice.

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Are an Immigration Advisor regulated at IAA Level 3 and/or qualified solicitor with substantial relevant experience of providing high quality advice and casework to clients.
• Have a good understanding of a wide range of legal, rights and entitlements issues as they relate to immigration and asylum, along with knowledge of and empathy with the backgrounds and experiences of migrants who are in crisis or at risk

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday per year (with 3 additional days when the office is closed at Christmas) plus bank holidays. 
• Additional long service annual leave days up to a maximum of an additional 5 days per year. 
• Flexible and family friendly working arrangements including compressed hours and school term time working.
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution. 
• Commitment to staff learning and development.
• Cyclescheme and travelcard loans. 

DEADLINE: Rolling deadline, applications will be reviewed on submission and successful candidates invited to interview straight away.

For all roles, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the hostile immigration system. We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources on their website which may help in preparing your job application. 

Prison Facilitator - HMP Swinfen Hall

Location: Swinfen

Department: Prison delivery

Salary: £16,964

Hours: 21 hours/ 3 days per week

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Swinfen Hall. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach.

This role will be prison based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Please note this is a fixed term role until 31st March 2026 with the possibility of contract extension subject to funding.

‍Interviews are planned for the week commencing 24th November 2025.

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-224 767

Prison Facilitator - HMP Winchester

Location: Winchester

Department: Prison delivery

Salary: £22,619

Hours: 28 hours/ 4 days per week

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Winchester.

Working closely with the prison and their staff, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising peer opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and possess personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach.

This role will be prison based, working 4 days per week, Monday-Thursday. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. However, these roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Please note this is a fixed term role until October 2026 with the possibility of contract extension subject to funding.

Closing date: Midday 19th November 2025

‍Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-224 755

o you want to use your research skills to drive social change?

At HCT, we’re showing how lived experience can transform public health. With almost 500 staff and volunteers working across every NHS area and prison in England — and in parts of Scotland and Wales — we connect some of the most marginalised communities to the services that too often miss them.

We’re now seeking a Research & Impact Manager to lead a programme that places inclusion, impact and lived experience at the heart of research. You’ll shape and deliver studies that improve understanding, influence local and national policy, and demonstrate how peer-led approaches can achieve real health equity.

About the role

As Research & Impact Manager, you’ll take day-to-day leadership of our research and evaluation programmes. 

You’ll manage and develop our incredible team of peer researchers, supervise our Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate with the University of Essex, and build partnerships across academia, government, the NHS, and the voluntary sector. 

You’ll also design and deliver evaluations of our programmes, help evidence how lived experience-led services can improve equity in health and care, and support funding bids and grant applications, and the dissemination of impactful research.

About you

You’ll bring both strategic insight and hands-on research skills, ideally with a strong qualitative background. You’ll be comfortable working across academic, policy, and lived experience settings — and you’ll share our deep commitment to social justice and inclusion health.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about peer research and the power of lived experience
• Skilled in designing and delivering research and evaluation projects
• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with experience across academia, the NHS or the voluntary sector
• Able to mentor and empower others, including peer researchers and research colleagues
• A clear communicator who can translate research into impact

SLRA is a well-established local migrant support organisation working with and for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who are at risk or in crisis because of immigration issues. We provide specialist immigration advice as well as a broad range of practical, social and therapeutic support services. We also campaign for a fairer immigration system, involving local people with lived experience in influencing local and national policy and practice.   

We are looking for a new CEO to lead our dedicated team and continue to develop SLRA’s outstanding services and impact. We are looking for a determined and inspirational leader. You may be an experienced CEO or have the skills and determination needed to step up into the role. Our current CEO has led SLRA’s growth and development over the last eleven years and we are proud of our highly regarded and successful, local organisation. As we look to our new strategic period, we are looking for a new CEO who will ensure the continued exceptional impact of our work with local migrant individuals and communities and who will continue to develop our campaigning and policy influencing work at a time when the hostility of the external environment and government policies is more challenging than ever. If you think you might be the right person for this role, feel that you could bring the best out in those you lead and have the capability to define SLRA’s direction over the coming years, then we would love to hear from you.

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday per year (with 3 additional days when the office is closed at Christmas) plus bank holidays. 
• Additional long service annual leave days up to a maximum of an additional 5 days per year. 
• Flexible and family friendly working arrangements.
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution. 
• Commitment to staff learning and development.
• Cyclescheme and travelcard loans. 

For all roles, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the hostile immigration system. We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources on their website which may help in preparing your job application. 

The Patient Involvement Officer role sits at the junction of lived experience involvement and our charitable objectives and will build meaningful collaborations and alignment between those affected by primary bone cancer, researchers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

The successful candidate will co-ordinate and grow our Patient and Public Involvement Panel, which currently focuses on bringing lived experience to shape and review primary bone cancer research; however, we are keen for the voices of our community to contribute to our work across all our charitable pillars including our Support & Information service and our Influencing & Advocacy work. You will also support and empower our panel to share the work of Bone Cancer Research Trust more widely to their networks, ensuring a greater awareness of the charity and the impact of our work.

We are looking for someone with a good grasp of both the scientific and patient landscapes, who can balance attention to detail with big-picture awareness and work confidently in highly collaborative settings with multiple stakeholders and partner organisations.  This role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible contribution and ensure that our community’s voices drive progress across the UK and further afield.

Groundswell is a sector leader in participation, and our culture is built around the fact that over 65% of our staff have lived experience of homelessness or related experience. Our organisation benefits from a huge range of lived and learned experience and skills, and prides itself on ensuring our people and their experience and skills are at the heart of our organisation’s culture, delivery, and development. 

Our organisation has grown substantially over the last five years, to a staff team of around 40 people, growing from being London-based to having staff across England, and the world-wide transition from purely office-based to hybrid working for most staff members. 

We have been working hard to incorporate Trauma Informed Care Principles and a person-centred approach into our People function, while also building strong administrative practices, and we are looking for the right person to maintain these practices across the coming year in this maternity cover role. There are several projects that we have outlined as priorities for the coming year, including the streamlining and accessibility of our staff resources and the development of effective induction and onboarding practices and resources.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to develop their HR experience in a truly pioneering organisation, where lived experience and participation are key priorities. We’re looking for someone who has a solid grounding in employment legislation and best practice, which they are able to tailor to the circumstances and the individual they are supporting, while maintaining clear communication and effective People operations.