What is lived experience?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, lived experience is 'the things that someone has experienced themselves, especially when these give the person a knowledge or understanding that people who have only heard about such experiences do not have'.

In it's simplest form, lived experience is first-hand experience of something. It's all about people's personal perspectives and it can relate to all different aspects of life.

So, I have lived experience of being a marketing consultant. This gives me insights that are only gained by living that experience. It's more than knowledge and skills - it's expertise that is gained through living.

Why does it matter? Well, empathy can only take us so far. Sometimes, we need to hear or understand people's lived experience to truly appreciate their viewpoint or journey.

How can charities harness lived experience?

Charities are in a unique position to listen to the people they support. From clients to fundraisers, every single person who connects with your charity has a story to tell.

By listening to and sharing these lived experiences, you can ensure the voices of the people you support are heard.

Why bother?

Each and every person has lived experiences. By including lived experience in our storytelling, we are able to create connections with people who may be in a similar situation.

Stories give meaning to our experiences. By sharing and listening to stories, we develop and nurture empathy. This leads to increased engagement, as well as supporting your funding efforts.

Using lived experience in your storytelling helps you to

• Build trust

• Demonstrate credibility

• Promote shared power

• Improve your services

As a charity, it's up to you to share deep insight and knowledge which can only be gained from experience. You can challenge perceptions and stereotypes, and reflect the diversity of people's experiences in your communications and marketing.

Learn more about storytelling and lived experience

On Thursday 13 March, I will be running an online training session all about the power of storytelling and how to share lived experience.

Book your place