Lived Experience: The Strength Behind My Work

For a long time, before I was in care, I believed my past was something I was to hide. I thought the things I had been through with my birth family when I was younger were something I had to hide from the world in my head. The pain, the trauma, and the labels I had to witness were reasons people might not take me seriously if I spoke up and if I had the voice to speak up.

But saying that today, I see things differently. My lived experience is not a weakness. It is the strongest part of who I am today – and it is at the heart of everything I do. Yes, I look back on things occasionally, but it has made me a better person.

Why Lived Experience Matters?

When you have been through the care system, trauma, abuse, or any kind of lifelong challenge, the world does not always make space for your voice. People speak about you instead of with you. Words are louder than actions. Systems are built for you, but not by you. That is where things often go wrong.

That is why I wanted to start this business. Because I know what it is like to feel voiceless and unheard – and I know what it means to finally be heard.

Through my training, workshops, and public speaking, I use my experience to connect with other people who have faced similar struggles and challenges. I create learning environments that are not only inclusive but trauma–aware, emotionally safe, and empowering people to be better and achieve something for you.

More Than A Story

Sharing your lived experience is not just ‘telling your story’. It is about using your voice to create change and letting it be more meaningful to others. Yes, during my courses and workshops, I talk about what I have been through – but I also talk about how I have healed, how I have learned, and how I have grown as a person. I speak with honesty and respect, but also with hope.

Whether it is training professionals on how to get better support for vulnerable – individuals or running an insightful workshop for people rebuilding their confidence – I bring my full self into the space. Because I have been there and wore the T-shirt. I care deeply about making sure no one feels alone in it.

Creating Change Together For The Better

Lived experience gives me insight that textbooks cannot teach. It helps me to understand:

§  How to adapt learning for people who process information differently

§  How to spot when someone is overwhelmed or triggered

§  Why trust takes time – and how to build it

§  What real empowerment looks like

It is this understanding that shapes the way I teach, speak and work.

My Final Thoughts

If you have been through something difficult, please know that your story matters. Your experience has much more value than you think it does. Remember you are not broken – you are building on what you have.

If you work with people who have experienced trauma, care or disability, know this: real connections start with listening. With empathy, with understanding that lived experience is an expertise.

This is why I bring what I have to the table – and I am super proud of it and how far I have come and beyond.

‘People with lived experience offer insight no textbook ever could’