New Greater Manchester guidance champions lived experience in policy

We asked members of GM Equality Alliance to share why they think it’s important to include the voices of lived experience in policy making. Find out what Circle Steele, CEO, Wai Yin Society, had to say.

Greater Manchester Equality Alliance (GM=EqAl) has published a new guide for public sector partners on how to meaningfully include lived experience in policymaking.

The guidance, developed as part of the VCFSE Accord’s equalities workstream, is packed with practical advice, from co-production and inclusive engagement to fair remuneration for people sharing their time and expertise. It encourages organisations to go beyond one-off consultations and really embed community voices into the heart of how decisions are made.

Jules Palfreyman, Chair of GM=EqAl, said: “We are really proud of this piece of work… We really hope that it will be useful but more importantly effective in embedding the voice of lived experience in decision-making.”

This is a timely and valuable resource for anyone looking to strengthen their approach to working with communities. It reflects what many of us in the North West VCFSE sector have been championing for years, that policies and services work best when they’re shaped by the people most affected by them.

You can access the full guidance and a summary version on the VCFSE Leadership GM website.