Unpaid carers often have firsthand experience with health and social care services. Since the Care Act 2014, there’s been a move to involve people with lived experience in designing services. This approach ensures that services reflect the needs of those who use them.

Our Lived Experience Panel is an opportunity for unpaid carers to share power with professionals and use your expertise to make positive change in the community.

The panel members work with Carers Manchester, the City Council and local charities to…

  • support development of strategies
  • codesign short break opportunities for unpaid carers
  • review communications materials
  • attend external meetings

Who can join the panel?

Anyone who is an unpaid carer living in Manchester, or caring for someone who lives in Manchester, and are over the age of 18. Anyone who feels they are a carer can be involved. The key criteria is that you want to make sure that unpaid carers are listened to when services and strategies are developed. 

Update: to ensure we get diverse perspectives, we are currently only recruiting male carers.

What do participants get out of it?

People who have been involved in lived experience work describe the importance of being listened to, and their opinions being valued. You also get paid for your time (£15 per hour). You choose if you want to get this paid to your bank account or in shopping vouchers. We also cover your travel expenses.

I’d like to hear more or apply to be involved – what do I need to do?

If you are interested, get in touch to have a chat. Contact us by emailing to LivedExperience@carersmanchester.org.uk or call 0161 834 6069 (ext 1133, please leave a message if no one answers).

Panel meetings and opportunities

We have a monthly meeting and other opportunities to get involved. Panel members receive regular emails about opportunities. We also list these in our events calendar. Use term “Lived Experience” in the search bar to find all the opportunities. 

You can also read updates about Lived Experience work in the blog.

For current members

For current members of the panel: use this link to submit the claim for your time. Deadline is the 13th of each month.