Lived experience

We wanted to embed inclusivity, equity, justice, diversity, and co-production meaningfully and authentically in our work.  

In February 2021, we funded a pilot lived experience advisory panel to inform and shape our inclusive research and engagement practice. Once established, the panel chose to change its name to REBLE.  

The REBLE researchers are ten people who bring different life experiences, expertise, and perspectives on public services.  

They work with us to make sure our assumptions and interpretations of research and engagement are grounded in the experiences of those accessing services. They sense check our ideas and advise us on design.       

About the REBLE researchers 

The REBLE researchers are ten people who are passionate about sharing their lived experience, expertise, and perspectives to improve inclusive practice and co-production in research and engagement. 

Coming from a range of different ethnic backgrounds and ages, some members have physical or learning disabilities, or long-term health conditions which affect their everyday lives.  

Their expertise  

Each member brings unique expertise on a range of topics, from mental health, disability and being a carer to anti-racism, sexuality, and discrimination.  

Their expertise also covers experience in campaigning and research, as well as being part of lived experience groups.  

"Members of the Traverse team joined us during one of our REBLE meetings.  They too shared their life experiences with us. I remember typing in the chat that this was a day I would remember for years to come.  It was extraordinary, I felt a wave of acceptance and belonging.  I felt safe with these people, just as I had felt in previous months in our own REBLE meetings. 

"It can feel confusing to me at times to think and talk about being disempowered.  It is experienced as a feeling, a feeling of injustice that hurts my chest and makes my cheeks flame.  Becoming a REBLE researcher with its focus on spending valuable time at a patient pace with each other is the answer to a promise that I silently made to myself - perhaps others did too, in terrifying, lonely dark times.  The promise is that there will be a time in the future where you will have a voice, that the things you write and speak about will be listened to on a deeper level and that there is a better way." Steph - REBLE researcher 

REBLE with a cause 

On 25 November 2021, we hosted an event called REBLE with a cause to share our learning to date about setting up a lived experience in research panel.

Over 80 people joined us at the event, which was co-run by the REBLE researchers, who shared their own reflections and learnings alongside colleagues at Traverse.

Through a powerful interactive forum theatre approach, we explored inclusive practice – and how research can benefit from lived experience, co-production and power sharing. The forum theatre performance drew directly on the lived experience of REBLE researchers and their participation in research.

In this report, we share graphic recordings from the event which tell the story of the forum theatre performance and interactions. We also share reflections on the event from a range of perspectives and hopes for the future.

Listen to the event below.