Welcome to the 2024/25 annual report of the Experts Together Partnership. This report celebrates the remarkable journey of our partnership, which began with the development of the Experts Together Pledge by individuals with lived experiences back in 2022.
I am immensely proud of the success of the Experts Together Pledge Partnership and the positive impact it has had on the people of North Lincolnshire. This partnership has been instrumental in driving change and improving the lives of our residents through collaborative working.
The achievements of the partnership so far are a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. As we look to the future, I am hopeful that we will see even greater involvement and impact from all partners, growing the ways in which we ask, listen and act upon the voice of people with lived experience. Together, we can build a brighter future for North Lincolnshire, one where partnership and people’s voice are at the forefront of our efforts to inspire change and improve lives.
Lived Experience Representatives
We are a diverse group of people who like to make a difference to North Lincolnshire. We volunteer to help North Lincolnshire Council, by giving them the voice of people with lived experience. We represent peoples voice groups at the Experts Together Pledge Partnership, talking about the issues our groups have spoken about, and opportunities to make change. We think it is important for organisations to Ask, Listen and Act, making positive changes for the people of North Lincolnshire.
Founder of Experts Together
Experts by Experience
Experts by Experience
Learning Disability Partnership
Carers in Partnership
Throughout 2024/25, the Experts Together Pledge Partnership meeting has seen attendance from a diverse group of professionals and stakeholders. These meetings have provided a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of innovative solutions. The consistent participation of lived experience group representatives has significantly contributed to the progress and success of the partnership’s initiatives.
Hearing from an adult with lived experience of Autism, the group discussed some of the barriers that were faced, particularly focusing on education and employment opportunities.
Showcasing the Experts Together Workforce Tool, provided the opportunity to promote the work that has been undertaken in this area to ensure peoples voice is heard across Adult Social Care at North Lincolnshire Council.
Following a number of discussions across peoples voice groups, a representative from North Lincolnshire Council Transport spoke with the partnership about the challenges faced in our communities. This included challenges faced when reporting concerns, where it was reiterated to use the Council website to report concerns rather than Fix My Street. Work linked to transport, including taxi services, has continued into the new year.
Discussions on feelings of safety and Safeguarding were held, to understand any areas of concern or issues that were felt by group members or that partnership agencies were aware of. Discussing feelings of safety in peoples own homes was high on the discussion list, and the ways in which people are supported or can access support.
As part of discussions on Community First and Independence, a workshop was undertaken by Public Health. This included activities discussing opinions about local communities and impact on wellbeing and health of individuals.
The Experts Together Partnership has made a significant impact on the community by continuously emphasising the importance of incorporating people’s voices in decision making processes by local partner agencies.
Throughout 2024/25, the partnership has actively engaged with groups that support people, including Experts by Experience, Carers in Partnership, and Cloverleaf Advocacy, to ensure that the lived experiences of individuals are heard and acted upon. This collaborative approach has led to meaningful changes, such as the development of easy-read documents, improved support for carers, and enhanced accessibility in educational settings. Through the partnership, organisations and peoples voice and support groups are able to share good practice and impact of peoples voice with others. By asking, listening, and acting on feedback, the partnership has fostered a culture of accountability and responsiveness, ensuring that the needs and concerns of the community are addressed effectively.
The impact of people’s voice, strengthened by the Experts Together pledge, has been demonstrated across the partnerships, with organisations sharing examples of the ways they have used the principals of Ask, Listen and Act within their work.
As part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring services meet the needs of our communities, and using the Experts Together Pledge Partnership principals of Ask, Listen and Act, the Alzheimer’s Society actively engaged with the community to gather valuable input for their 5-year plan.
The Alzheimer’s Society listened attentively to the community’s emphasis on the importance of having a diagnosis in place and the need for ongoing support for both the person receiving care and their caregivers.
By incorporating these insights into their 5-year plan, the Alzheimer’s Society has ensured that both diagnosis and ongoing support are prioritised.
The principals of “Ask, Listen and Ask” are well embedded in the Carers in Partnership group and their work. Made up of people with lived experience (past and present) of being a parent carer or adult carer, they provide valuable insight into their experiences and inform decision making that ensures services meet the needs of the people who use them.
Through the work of the Carers in Partnership (CIP) group, the CIP chair raised the lack of formal understanding as to the experience of group members and the diversity this provides to the group. They identified a piece of work that would help reflect upon the experiences of current group members and identify any demographics or areas missing from representation within the group.
Initially, the CIP chair highlighted this as an area for development. The group was supported in a discussion about what they could achieve through an audit and provided input into the question areas that would be on the “audit.
Using the feedback from the group on the information they felt relevant to collate, a survey was produced based on their requirements. This audit provides an understanding of existing group member experiences and will provide a gap analysis to complete targeted recruitment activity.
The Carers’ Support Centre, as part of the Experts Together initiative, has demonstrated a commendable approach in their efforts to support carers. They have actively asked for feedback and suggestions from carers to understand their needs and challenges better. By creating various channels for communication, such as surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings, they have ensured that carers have multiple opportunities to voice their concerns and share their experiences.
Listening to the carers has been a crucial part of their strategy. The Carers’ Support Centre has shown genuine empathy and attentiveness by carefully considering the feedback received. They have taken the time to analyse the information and identify common themes and issues that need addressing. This attentive listening has allowed them to gain valuable insights into the carers’ perspectives and the areas where support is most needed.
Acting on the feedback is where the Carers Support Centre has truly made a difference. They have implemented various initiatives and programs based on the carers’ input. These actions have included providing additional resources, organizing training sessions, and improving access to services. By taking concrete steps to address the concerns raised by carers, the Carers Support Centre has shown their commitment to making a positive impact and enhancing the support available to carers.
At Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire, we know that people with lived experience are the true experts. Their voices show us how our services really help, where we must improve, and how we can make the greatest difference.
As part of the RDaSH community mental health transformation, individuals experiencing mental illness shaped how services were delivered. They challenged us to rethink communication, sat on interview panels, and worked with professionals to influence
future support. We asked, we listened, and we acted.
Every client story matters. The evidence we collect from lived experience helps us challenge inequality locally and nationally. Without these voices, this change would not be possible. As one expert told us: “Thank you for listening and showing me I have a voice, and that there are people who want to make a difference.”
By embedding lived experience into everything we do, we ensure our services are not only for the community, but shaped by it.
Cloverleaf continually engages with self-advocacy groups to ensure their voices are heard by asking if there is anything they want to bring up, what makes them angry or upset, and regularly checking on their wellbeing and any changes needed for the groups.
With consent, Cloverleaf takes issues raised to partner organisations for investigation. Additionally, themed activities are arranged at the request of self-advocates during peer groups. Cloverleaf co-produced an easy-read First Aid guide to support people with a Learning Disability within the home. During Learning Disability week, a health and safety event was created where self-advocates learned basic first aid and participated in chair-based activities.
During this week self-advocates met multiple agencies in the community at Cloverleaf’s Be Heard conference in Bradford. Seven self-advocates from North Lincolnshire attended and gave positive feedback, expressing their desire to campaign in 2025 about ‘understanding abuse’.
Recognising the feedback on the education and employment experiences of individuals with disabilities, DN colleges developed an activity to reflect on people’s voices in their everyday practice.
They asked individuals about the barriers to attending and the challenges they faced while attending the college. DN colleges took on board the feedback from individuals with lived experiences, as well as those who may use their services in the future. They listened to people’s concerns about not understanding the layout and structure of the buildings, what is expected of them within the locations, and who the people are they might encounter at the education site.
In response, DN colleges acted by producing a video recording of the college, pictures of staff, quiet tour sessions, and easy-read documents. This initiative allows individuals to absorb the information before attending the setting, addressing some of the experienced anxieties. With courses now being offered at UCNL, this approach is being replicated for this other location.
Healthwatch North Lincolnshire is dedicated to improving health and social care services in the area. They gather feedback from the community and use it to influence service providers and commissioners to make necessary changes. They also offer information and advice to help residents find local services.
During 2024/25 Healthwatch North Lincolnshire have engaged in a number of activities that focus on the principles of “ask, listen & ask”.
A spotlight project that has been undertaken centres around developing a deeper understanding of the services and support available for Neurodiverse people. They asked people in North Lincolnshire about their experiences of accessing services for Neurodiverse people.
Once an understanding of the ask was developed, Healthwatch North Lincolnshire listened to peoples experiences and gathered information via conversations, surveys and attending local groups. Gathering information from peoples experiences, Healthwatch were able to act through the development of a report that amplified the voice of all that contributed to the research report. It was forwarded to leaders of health and social care services to make them aware of people’s voice and suggested recommendations to improve the current offer.
Co-production and the inclusion of peoples voice in understanding and enhancing our services has been undertaken across all service areas during this year.
An example of a variety of voice sources and the importance of coproduction in strategic decision was in developing the reviewed Homeless Strategy, where we recognised the need to involve our local communities and those with lived experience. We created a survey based on the existing strategy document and key areas of development, making it openly available online and encouraging completion during interactions to ensure current lived experience voices were included.
The survey resulted in 246 completions, with 10% of respondents having experienced homelessness. We analysed and collated the responses and top themes to understand their impact, using this information to inform strategic discussions and meetings across Housing, and involving the Changing Lives, Changing Futures partnership in considering the feedback We identified three key themes for inclusion in the strategy: Early Intervention and Prevention, Safe, Suitable and Sustainable Accommodation, and Opportunity to Participate and Contribute. These themes were used to shape the strategic document, ensuring alignment with the actual needs of those who engage with our services and our wider local communities.
The Experts Together Pledge Partnership has experienced incredible success throughout 2024/25, a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of our diverse group of people’s voice representatives and professionals. Their consistent involvement has not only enriched our discussions but also propelled our initiatives forward, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
As we look ahead, we remain optimistic and committed to building on our successes. We will continue to foster a culture of collaboration, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. Together, we will strive to create a more inclusive and responsive partnership, dedicated to enhancing outcomes for all.
If you or your organisation are dedicated to making a positive impact in our community and wish to join the Experts Together Partnership, and collaborate with organisations who are committed to co-production, innovation and excellence, please contact us for more information ExpertsTogether@northlincs.gov.uk
