Michelle shares her stance on lived experience boundaries

Sharing your lived experience was the topic of a webinar our founder Michelle John was asked to speak at today (Thursday).

Organised by Pioneers Post and attended by representatives from social enterprises across the UK and beyond, the event highlighted how choosing whether to disclose our lived experience – and how much detail to share – was personal to every single one of us.

First to speak was the incredible Leigh Carey, CEO and founder of The Hummingbird Project in Northern Ireland.

Leigh and her team work with people to give them the skills and expertise to stay well, as well as identifying stressors early and either managing their own mental wellbeing or asking for help.

She said disclosing her own experience of mental ill health enabled her to be her ‘authentic self’ within meetings but said it was important to consider the benefits – both to yourself and to those you’re talking to – of sharing specific details.

Considering how relevant your personal experiences were and how safe you feel sharing them was important, Leigh said. She also highlighted how a mix of experience was needed around every table – whether the person had lived, learned or practice experience.

Michelle then talked about deciding on boundaries (in terms of what information you shared or did not share) and making those clear from the offset. But, she highlighted, choosing not to disclose personal information wouldn’t necessarily impact the attention a social enterprise received from the media. Indeed, PEGS had been lucky to work alongside journalists from the likes of Channel 5 and ITV News who had been incredibly sensitive and respectful in how they covered a story about Child to Parent Abuse.

She added: “Those experiences do not define who you are. You define who you are. Perhaps people will question and ask ‘who are you to’ but the question is ‘who are you not to!’ You’re not doing it for people who don’t believe you, or don’t believe in you. You’re doing it for the ones who desperately need you.

“You don’t need to justify why you don’t share details. No is a complete sentence.”

Visit https://www.pioneerspost.com/ to see the latest news from the social enterprise magazine!

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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.