Description

Tell Your Story? Maybe Not.

Free | National Care Experienced People Month | Online interactive workshop | 2.5 hours | 3rd November rolling sessions 10.00 am – 12.30 pm and 6 pm-8.30pm (Please note, this is the same session ran twice, you do not need to attend both)

You can have a voice without having to tell your story.

Care-experienced people are often invited to influence research, services, policy and practice because of their lived experience. But too often, that can come with an expectation that making a difference means sharing personal experiences.

Your story isn’t the price of having a voice.

This free, interactive workshop creates space to explore the many ways care-experienced people can contribute their knowledge, ideas and expertise without feeling pressured to disclose personal experiences or revisit difficult memories.

Together, we’ll explore the difference between lived experience and personal disclosure, why personal stories are so often asked for, and the different ways you can participate, influence change and have your knowledge and expertise recognised on your own terms.

What we’ll explore

During the workshop, we’ll think about:

• The difference between having lived experience and sharing your personal story
• Why lived-experience opportunities can sometimes place too much emphasis on disclosure
• Different ways to contribute to research, policy, practice, participation and wider change
• Recognising the knowledge, skills and perspectives you bring beyond your personal experiences
• Making choices about what you do and don’t want to share
• Setting and communicating your own boundaries
• Questions you might want to ask before saying yes to an opportunity

There will be opportunities for discussion, reflection and activities throughout the workshop, but you can choose how you take part.

Who is it for?

This workshop is for care-experienced people of any age who are interested in having a say, getting involved or helping to influence change.

You might already be involved in a Children in Care Council, participation group, research project, advisory group, campaigning or other opportunities or this might be completely new to you.

You don’t need any previous experience to take part.

A space without an expectation to disclose

You will never be expected to share your personal story or disclose anything about your experiences that you don’t want to.

In fact, that’s part of what this workshop is about.

We’ll explore how you can use your ideas, knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to change while keeping control over what you choose to share.

The workshop will not be recorded.

Organisations and group bookings

Free places for this Care Experienced People Month workshop are for care-experienced people attending the open session.

If you’re a local authority, charity, participation service or other organisation and would like Tell Your Story? Maybe Not. delivered specifically for your group, the workshop is also available as a commissioned session.

The content can be adapted to suit the age, experience and needs of your group. Please get in touch to discuss delivery and costs.