Hear directly from The Passage’s Lived Experience Assembly (LEA) members – James, Latoya, Phillipe and Vivienne.
We are the LEA, a group of people who’ve been through homelessness and rough sleeping ourselves. Our experiences have given us a deep understanding of the tough challenges others in similar situations face.
We’re not just a support group; we’re actively involved in the governance and decision-making at The Passage. Our main job is to share our insights and help guide the organisation strategy, making sure the voices of people with lived experience are at the heart of everything we do.
Working with the Experts by Experience team
We also work with the Experts by Experience Team, a group of individuals who use Passage services and represent the service user voice in shaping our on-the-ground service delivery and policies. The group delivers a bi-annual peer research project, interviewing other service users to collect their candid views and feedback about the services they receive.
This feedback is used to make changes and implement initiatives to improve the experiences of their peers. The team also supports us with our recruitment panels, our policy development, and our work with local stakeholders to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are represented in everything we do.
At The Passage, we’re valued not just for our stories, but for the skills
and perspectives we bring.
The team recognises how important our input is in shaping policies and practices that directly impact the lives of those using the services. We work closely with senior management to push for better solutions, constantly challenging The Passage to think outside the box in tackling homelessness. Our mission is simple but impactful: we want to influence and improve how The Passage operates and represents the realities of rough sleeping to the outside world.
Through our LEA platform, we make sure our insights are woven into the organisation’s strategies. This teamwork helps us tackle the complex issues affecting people experiencing homelessness. We know that homelessness isn’t the same for everyone; every person’s experience is unique. Service users of The Passage, like us, have valuable insights that help to improve its services. Through our work, we aim to highlight their power and potential.
We believe that collaboration can lead to continuous improvement for The Passage while advocating for the needs of those we serve. Our goal is to see The Passage reach more people, helping them find long-term housing solutions and preventing rough sleeping so that no one has to spend a night on the street.
We’re driven by a strong desire to make real change in the
homelessness landscape. This issue is urgent – it’s an emergency that needs immediate attention.
– The Passage Lived Experience Assembly
By coming together as the LEA, we aim to change how homelessness is viewed and improve public understanding of its complexities. Each of us in the LEA has a personal story that fuels our passion for advocacy.
For Latoya, joining the LEA was her way of giving back to the charity that helped her recover. She believes that small changes can have a big impact on those currently experiencing homelessness. By making sure service users are heard, we help create a culture of empathy at The Passage. James echoes this idea, pointing out that we provide crucial insights into the daily decisions made at The Passage. Together, we can challenge the norm, improve services, and ultimately transform lives.
With hope and determination, we’re united in our mission to create a future where everyone has a place to call home. As members of the Lived Experience Assembly, we’re committed to using our voices.