Engagement & Events
Lived experience engagement and events, planned with care
Bring lived experience into the conversations where people are listening and decisions are taking shape.
LENs provides Experts by Experience for keynotes, panels and chaired discussions. We can also help with session design and co-produced media. Before the activity, we agree what it is for, what the contributor is being asked to do and what support will be needed.
What it includes
- Keynotes, panels and chaired discussions
- Session design support
- Co-produced films, case studies and media contributions
Give lived experience a meaningful place in the agenda
A speaker may share something deeply personal. If their role is vague or the slot has been added late, the contributor can be left carrying the emotional weight while the audience is unsure what to do with what it has heard.
LENs starts by asking why lived experience is needed in the room. We then look at the format, what the contributor is being asked to bring and what the organisation plans to do with the discussion afterwards.
Choose the format that fits the conversation
01
Keynotes
An Expert by Experience can connect policy, practice or organisational priorities with what people encounter in services. The brief needs to cover the topic, audience, boundaries and what the session is meant to achieve.
02
Panels and chaired discussions
Panels and facilitated conversations bring Experts by Experience into dialogue with professionals, leaders, practitioners and other stakeholders. Each contributor needs a defined role. No one should be expected to represent every person who has used a service.
03
Session design support
LENs can help shape the format, questions and contributor role. We can also look at how the audience will be invited to respond, so the contribution connects with the reason for holding the event.
04
In-person, online and hybrid delivery
LENs can support in-person, online and hybrid engagements. We will agree the format during scoping and account for the practical needs of contributors, organisers and the audience.
05
Co-produced films, case studies and media contributions
LENs’ current service offer includes co-produced films, case studies and media contributions. These activities require explicit agreement about consent, editorial control, attribution, recording, storage, future use and the contributor’s right to change or withdraw permission where applicable.
What the service does not replace
An engagement activity does not by itself constitute co-production, consultation or sustained involvement. Those approaches require their own purpose, relationships and routes into decision-making. Where an organisation needs ongoing input or shared design, another LENs service may be more appropriate.
Bring relevant lived experience into the conversation
Experts by Experience bring knowledge developed through personal experience of health or social care, or through caring for and supporting someone who uses services. LENs will supply the Experts by Experience for the agreed activity. No single person can speak for everyone, so each contribution will be framed as a relevant perspective rather than a universal account.
The brief needs to explain why a particular perspective is being invited and what the contributor will and will not be expected to discuss. It will also cover preparation, support, accessibility, travel where relevant, recording and the handling of sensitive questions.
How the engagement works
Define the purpose and intended outcome
Clarify the audience, central question and what you want people to understand, discuss or do differently after the activity.
Select the most appropriate format
Decide whether the purpose is best served by a keynote, panel, chaired conversation, facilitated session or co-produced media contribution.
Agree the brief and boundaries
Set out the topic, role, timings, questions, access requirements, consent arrangements and anything outside the contributor’s role. Agree how their experience will be introduced.
Brief the contributor, chair and organiser
Give each person the practical information and context they need. If sensitive topics may arise, agree how questions will be managed and what support is available before, during and after the activity.
Deliver the engagement
Keep to the agreed boundaries and give the contributor space to speak without being pushed into areas they have not agreed to discuss. The chair or facilitator connects the conversation with the purpose of the session.
Capture the learning and follow up
Agree how key themes are recorded, who receives them and what follow-up is useful. A contribution will not be recorded, published or reused outside the agreed terms.
What LENs can contribute
The current LENs service record, together with owner-approved delivery details, supports the following activities:
- Keynotes
- Panels and chaired discussions
- Session design support
- In-person, online or hybrid delivery
- Co-produced films
- Co-produced case studies
- Media contributions
- An agreed follow-up after the engagement or event
The agreed scope will specify the format, number of contributors, preparation, facilitation, materials, recording and usage rights, accessibility arrangements and the follow-up to be provided.
Treat lived experience as expertise, not content
People need to know what they are agreeing to, where their contribution will appear and who may see or hear it. They should not be pressured to disclose more than they have agreed. Sensitive questions need firm boundaries.
For recorded or reusable content, the agreement should cover editing, attribution, channels, duration of use, storage and what happens if circumstances change. Event arrangements should also address access needs, emotional wellbeing, travel and breaks.
Engagement & Events FAQs
Can LENs provide keynote speakers or panellists?
Keynotes, panels and chaired discussions are included in the current Engagement & Events offer. Availability and suitability depend on the subject, audience, contributor brief, preparation required and practical arrangements.
Can LENs help us design the session as well as provide a contributor?
Yes. Session design support is part of the current offer. Involving LENs while the agenda is still being developed gives the lived experience contribution a proper place in the session.
Can you support films, case studies or other media?
Co-produced films, case studies and media contributions are included in the current service description. The scope must clearly address consent, editorial involvement, attribution, recording, storage, usage rights and contributor support before production begins.
Can the engagement be delivered in person or online?
Yes. LENs can support in-person, online and hybrid engagements. We will agree the most suitable format with you during scoping.
Can LENs provide a follow-up after the event?
Yes. LENs can provide an agreed follow-up after the engagement or event. The format will depend on the purpose of the work and will be included in the written scope.
How do we avoid tokenistic involvement?
Start with a real purpose for involving lived experience. Give the contributor a defined role, involve them early enough to influence the format, agree boundaries and explain how the organisation will use what is learned. If the work requires shared decision-making or ongoing influence, consider a co-production or advisory service rather than a single event contribution.
Can one Expert by Experience represent everyone who uses a service?
No individual experience represents every person or community. The contribution should be introduced as one relevant perspective, with care taken not to generalise beyond what the contributor can reasonably speak about.
How far in advance should we contact LENs?
Contact LENs as early as possible with the proposed date, audience, format, topic and purpose. A specific lead time can be confirmed during scoping based on the requirements of the engagement.
When one event is not enough
- ServiceStrategic Co-Production & AdvisoryWhen people with lived experience need to help shape a policy, pathway or change programme.
- ServiceLived Experience Advisory BoardsWhen your organisation needs a standing forum for regular challenge and advice.
- ServiceTraining and Accreditation SupportWhen lived experience needs to inform or contribute to staff learning.
- ServiceResearch, Evaluation & InsightWhen the objective is to gather and analyse experience systematically.
Related guides
- GuideWhat does good lived experience involvement look like?Good lived experience involvement has a clear purpose, starts early, supports people to contribute and gives organisations a route to use what they hear.
- GuideCo-production, consultation and engagement: what is the difference?Understand the difference between consultation, engagement, co-design and co-production, and choose the form of lived experience involvement that fits the work.
- GuideHow to support and supervise Experts by Experience ethicallyPractical guidance on role design, preparation, boundaries, supervision and wellbeing when Experts by Experience work with health and social care organisations.
Plan an engagement with purpose
Tell us who will be in the room, what you want them to discuss and why lived experience matters to the event. We can then talk through the format and what needs to go into the brief.