Surrey’s Changing Futures Programme Receives Prestigious Award for Supporting People with Lived Experience into Employment

Posted by SCC ⋅ March 27, 2024

Filed Under bridge the gap, changing futures, lived experience charter awards, surrey county council

Surrey’s Changing Futures programme has been recognised as one of 24 services across the UK taking significant strides in supporting individuals with lived experience into meaningful employment.

This recognition comes as part of their participation in the Lived Experience Charter, an initiative spearheaded by Career Matters and commissioned by NHS England.

Today (Wednesday March 27^th) an event was held at Millennium Point in Birmingham when the services received their awards as part of the Lived Experience Charter Awards.

The Lived Experience Charter is an innovative movement designed to highlight and honour organisations that demonstrate a commitment to employing individuals with personal experiences of the care system, criminal justice system, and multiple disadvantage.

Jamie Poole, Lived Experience Project Manager for the Changing Futures programme with Surrey County Council, said his own lived experience has helped to shape the person he is today.

Jamie said: “Having accumulated more than 18 years of experience in recovery, and through my work in the fields of addiction, mental health, criminal justice, and housing, I have leveraged both my personal experiences and professional knowledge to assist others.

“The value lived and living experience brings to the conversation when designing and commissioning community services cannot be underestimated. It is amazing to receive this award, which is an acknowledgement of all the work we do to support people with lived experience into employment.”

Part of Jamie’s role involves co-chairing the Bridge the Gap referrals panel. Bridge the Gap is a Changing Futures initiative supporting people with multiple disadvantage across Surrey with specialist outreach.

Multiple disadvantage is when someone is experiencing three or more of the following: homelessness, mental ill health, substance use, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system.

Jamie said that The Changing Futures Surrey Lived and Living Experience Community has a wide membership where everyone can talk about their experiences and shape the services they use. “When involving people with lived experience in genuine co-production it must be authentic and not just tokenistic if we want to see positive change in the longer term for vulnerable residents in Surrey,” he said.

“However, there is still a long way to go with overcoming prejudice and stigma, particularly for those with lived experience.”

By adhering to the Charter’s values, standards, and practices, Surrey’s Changing Futures programme, has increased job roles for people with lived experience, showcasing the power and importance of diversity and inclusion within the workforce.

This award comes after a comprehensive review process where the programme demonstrated its dedication to inclusive recruitment practices. Services participating in the Lived Experience Charter benefit from extensive training on best practice approaches, organisation-wide support, and the opportunity to join a community dedicated to excellence and inclusivity in employment.

Hannah Kirkbride, Director of Career Matters, said: “The Lived Experience Charter was co-designed with people with lived experience. The project has supported fifty-two organisations to review their policies, practices and environment to better support the inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and/or the care system. It has been an incredible process that has increased job opportunities, influenced policy change and brought awareness of the barriers these communities face.”

Kevin Heffernan, Implementation Manager of the NHSE National Health & Justice Team, said: “Congratulations to all participants in this project. The contributions across such a range of perspectives/pathways are testimony to how important and valued the Lived Experience Charter has become. At NHS England we have shared both the value base and ambition and are proud to have collaborated with Career Matters to deliver work that has had such a positive impact in delivering a more inclusive workforce. Championing the inclusion, development and sustainability of our Lived Experience workforce will ultimately help us collectively move closer to being the best we can be together.”