What is the Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG)?
The LEAG is a group of individuals who have all experience some form of violence or abuse and mental health difficulties. Together they bring with them a wealth of experience in consultancy, training, and research. The LEAG help inform the wider VAMHN, ensuring that grants included the voices of those with lived experience, offering commentaries to journal articles, and they are also planning to produce a series of blogs and podcasts on the themes of violence, abuse and mental health.
The LEAG is a group of individuals who have all experience some form of violence or abuse and mental health difficulties. Together they bring with them a wealth of experience in consultancy, training, and research. The LEAG help inform the wider VAMHN, ensuring that grants included the voices of those with lived experience, offering commentaries to journal articles, and they are also planning to produce a series of blogs and podcasts on the themes of violence, abuse and mental health.
Who is in the LEAG?
Lisa Ward Lisa joined the VAMHN as our Lived Experience Involvement Consultant in 2020. Lisa is a lived experience consultant and researcher focusing on lived experience of violence and abuse, having previously working in the Violence Against Women & Girls Sector for more than a decade. Lisa is also undertaking a PhD on child perpetrated child abuse. She takes the lead on coordinating the network's Lived Experience Action Group. |
L.T.
L.T. is neurodivergent and an autism advocate. She has been a charity volunteer for over a decade (multiple organisations e.g. The Care Forum), due to a strong desire to support those from marginalised communities like herself. She belongs to a number of disadvantaged groups, such as LGBTQ+, disabled, and ethnic minority. She hopes that her lived experience of complex trauma can help shape research and services for those who have also been affected by abuse and violence. She currently advises on mental health research and public involvement on a number of projects, from a similar perspective. She loves cats, ice cream (even in winter), and making art.
Naima Khan
Naima Khan is a professional lived experience researcher having worked for a number of organisations including AVA, McPin and AGENDA. 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 R
Emily R 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.
Justin Coleman
Justin is currently the Co-Founder & COO of the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, supporting organisations across its and Levelling the Playing Field networks. A Trustee for Kendleshire Kids Foundation. He leverages his lived experience of complex trauma to support VAMHN from a male perspective. Passionate about REDI, neurodiversity, leadership and systems change, he helps individuals and organisations address complex trauma, violence, abuse and mental health. Find him on LinkedIn here.
L.T. is neurodivergent and an autism advocate. She has been a charity volunteer for over a decade (multiple organisations e.g. The Care Forum), due to a strong desire to support those from marginalised communities like herself. She belongs to a number of disadvantaged groups, such as LGBTQ+, disabled, and ethnic minority. She hopes that her lived experience of complex trauma can help shape research and services for those who have also been affected by abuse and violence. She currently advises on mental health research and public involvement on a number of projects, from a similar perspective. She loves cats, ice cream (even in winter), and making art.
Naima Khan
Naima Khan is a professional lived experience researcher having worked for a number of organisations including AVA, McPin and AGENDA. 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 R
Emily R 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.
Justin Coleman
Justin is currently the Co-Founder & COO of the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, supporting organisations across its and Levelling the Playing Field networks. A Trustee for Kendleshire Kids Foundation. He leverages his lived experience of complex trauma to support VAMHN from a male perspective. Passionate about REDI, neurodiversity, leadership and systems change, he helps individuals and organisations address complex trauma, violence, abuse and mental health. Find him on LinkedIn here.
There are also two other members of the group who wish to remain anonymous.