What is the LEAG?
In September 2020 we were delighted to set up our VAMHN Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG). The LEAG will provide the network with crucial guidance to help deliver our aims and activities. Our LEAG members will be involved in developing blogs, resources and podcasts and were involved in assessing and scoring applications to the second round of the VAMHN small grant competition. The LEAG will be vital to the running of our events and funding opportunities and will ensure the network is acting in a way that centralises the perspectives of people with lived experience of violence, abuse and/or mental health issues.
In September 2020 we were delighted to set up our VAMHN Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG). The LEAG will provide the network with crucial guidance to help deliver our aims and activities. Our LEAG members will be involved in developing blogs, resources and podcasts and were involved in assessing and scoring applications to the second round of the VAMHN small grant competition. The LEAG will be vital to the running of our events and funding opportunities and will ensure the network is acting in a way that centralises the perspectives of people with lived experience of violence, abuse and/or mental health issues.
Who is in the LEAG?
Eleanor La Lune
Eleanor’s lived experiences inspire her to raise awareness of complex trauma as a researcher, advisor and creative social entrepreneur. She studies Community Psychology MA and is working on a PhD proposal researching lived experiences of complex trauma. Find out more via her website EyesOnTrauma.org.
Naima Iqbal
Naima Iqbal is a professional lived experience researcher having worked for a number of organisations including AVA, McPin, AGENDA and Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research specialisms include multiple disadvantage, trauma, and peer support. She is also a qualified gardener and experienced crafter, using these skills to support her community.
Emily Reynolds
Emily Reynolds is a writer and campaigner based in London. After a career in freelance journalism, she now works part-time as Campaigns and Communications Manager for the user-led mental health charity Wish, as Project Office for the Haringey Suicide Prevention Group, as a Lived Experience Designer at Mind, and as a Trustee for the National Survivor User Network.
Kathryn Hinchliff
I have worked in the VAWG sector for almost 20 years and I currently work for SafeLives as their accreditation Lead. I was a victim of domestic and sexual violence as a child and this has shaped every aspect of my life. I would like to use these experiences to help improve support for young people impacted by VAWG.
Lisa S
Lisa’s lived experience involving marital abuse and post-separation stalking continues to motivate her to help others in similar situations. As a victim of revenge porn, she campaigns for stricter revenge porn laws and helps bring to awareness the real harms of online sexual abuse. Lisa is currently in her final year of her masters, but she aims to get more involved in actively campaigning after the completion of her studies. Her main interest in mental health research is the distinctive effects of PTSD from sexual violence on lifelong wellbeing, particularly its impacts on brain health later in life.
Eleanor’s lived experiences inspire her to raise awareness of complex trauma as a researcher, advisor and creative social entrepreneur. She studies Community Psychology MA and is working on a PhD proposal researching lived experiences of complex trauma. Find out more via her website EyesOnTrauma.org.
Naima Iqbal
Naima Iqbal is a professional lived experience researcher having worked for a number of organisations including AVA, McPin, AGENDA and Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research specialisms include multiple disadvantage, trauma, and peer support. She is also a qualified gardener and experienced crafter, using these skills to support her community.
Emily Reynolds
Emily Reynolds is a writer and campaigner based in London. After a career in freelance journalism, she now works part-time as Campaigns and Communications Manager for the user-led mental health charity Wish, as Project Office for the Haringey Suicide Prevention Group, as a Lived Experience Designer at Mind, and as a Trustee for the National Survivor User Network.
Kathryn Hinchliff
I have worked in the VAWG sector for almost 20 years and I currently work for SafeLives as their accreditation Lead. I was a victim of domestic and sexual violence as a child and this has shaped every aspect of my life. I would like to use these experiences to help improve support for young people impacted by VAWG.
Lisa S
Lisa’s lived experience involving marital abuse and post-separation stalking continues to motivate her to help others in similar situations. As a victim of revenge porn, she campaigns for stricter revenge porn laws and helps bring to awareness the real harms of online sexual abuse. Lisa is currently in her final year of her masters, but she aims to get more involved in actively campaigning after the completion of her studies. Her main interest in mental health research is the distinctive effects of PTSD from sexual violence on lifelong wellbeing, particularly its impacts on brain health later in life.