We have recently been introduced to the Shaping our Lives report “Tickboxes and Tokenism? Service User Involvement Report 2022” into exploring the barriers that deaf and Disabled people face when wanting to share their lived experience.

The final report is the result of a survey Shaping our Lives ran in 2021 to explore these experiences of service user involvement and is an important read for anyone working in lived experience and service user involvement in research. We are keen to share this report and their work across the Institute’s Involvement network and do so with the permission of Shaping our Lives.

This user-led research demonstrates the current picture of involvement and explores the barriers that deaf and Disabled people face when wanting to share their lived experience. The research is part of a project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to build an Inclusive Involvement Movement nationally. The findings informed new support for people taking part in service user involvement delivered by Shaping our Lives, including our involvement opportunities Board and My Involvement Profile, a tool which helps individuals self-advocate for their access requirements to be able to take part. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Shaping our Lives is a not-for-profit, user-led organisation enabling people to have a stronger voice. They do this in three main ways:

• They support Disabled people and people from other marginalised communities to take part in service user involvement.
• They provide consultancy to organisations wanting to run better, more inclusive involvement.
• They conduct user-controlled research with academic partners to influence policy.

Find out more at: shapingourlives.org.uk