Lived-experience leaders can bring great benefits to both funders and communities – but it shouldn’t be at their cost

At the heart of lived experience in philanthropy is power. Platforming, engaging with and prioritising lived experience can be a step in dismantling traditional power dynamics between givers and beneficiaries. However, if the values and processes behind the intention of involving lived experience expertise are not embedded, there is the potential for perpetuating inequality and injustice that many funders seek to tackle.

Over the last few years, involvement of lived experienced leaders has exploded in the philanthropy space in the UK, in no small part due to the phenomenal and innovative work of the likes of Baljeet Sandhu, Hannah Paterson, and Derek Bardowell. The work done to mainstream and centre lived experience leadership has and is continuing to completely change how we look at challenging systemic oppression.