Have Lived Experience? At TOG Mind we offer those who have lived experience the opportunity to use that experience to help, discuss, and shape the future of our charity. If you live in Tameside we have the Lived Experience Panel (LEP). If you live in Oldham we have the Lived Experience Forum (LEF).
Tameside and Glossop
Lived Experience Panel
At TOG Mind, we invite those with mental health lived experience to contribute, share, and influence our charity's direction.
Can you spare 1.5 hours every 3 months? Join the Tameside Lived Experience Panel! You'll have a chance to influence how TOG Mind services are designed and developed. We believe involving people with lived experience improves our services and outcomes. TOG Mind values collaboration, where everyone can share their experiences and knowledge in developing services.
If you live in Tameside or Glossop, become a member of the Lived Experience Panel.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this panel, contact us at wellbeinghub [at] togmind.org or call 0161 330 9223 and ask for Gemma or Caroline.
Oldham - Lived Experience Forum
At TOG Mind, we invite those with mental health lived experience to contribute, share, and influence our charity's direction.
Can you spare 2 hours once a month? Join the Oldham Lived Experience Forum! A group of people with mental health lived experience that wants to actively contribute to the quality of support, prevention and recovery services across Oldham in the Living Well partnership and make them more inclusive, diverse and accessible.
What is the Oldham Lived Experience Forum?
The Oldham LE Forum is a group of people with mental health lived experience that want to actively contribute to the quality of support, prevention and recovery services across Oldham in the Living Well partnership and make them more inclusive, diverse and accessible.
What does mental health lived experience mean?
Lived experience is the knowledge and understanding you get when you have lived through something.
What does the LE Forum do?
The Oldham LE Forum helps with the co-production and development of mental health services. The Forum also influences local discussions about mental health, enhances partnership working and integration of services. The Forum advocates and empowers the voices of people accessing mental health services.
Who are the LE Forum members?
The members are Oldham residents with mental health experience, carers of people with mental health experience, mental health service users, people with accessibility difficulties.
What activities do the Forum members do?
The Forum members meet monthly for 2 hours. Sometimes there are other activities that the Forum members get involved in like reviewing information, focus groups, participating in recruitment and training as panel members.
LE Forum members are offered different options that suit their individual needs and circumstances. These options include:
- Consultation – Surveys, reviewing information materials, policies, suggestion box
- Working Together – focus groups, speaking events, reviewing strategies or policies, writing case study or blog post for website
- Doing together – co chairing meetings, guest editing newsletter, co delivering training, translating materials
- Deciding together – part of recruitment, co designing resources and services, steering group, board of trustees
- Leading – delivering training, delivering services/activities, organising and running own events, chairing meeting
Become a member of the Oldham Lived Experience Forum!
Please click here to download an application form.
Contact us and share your opinions at lef [at] togmind.org.
Meet the Members!
Gemma
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Role in relation to TOG Mind:Community Development Project Manager Reason why you joined the panel?(TBA) |
Role in relation to TOG Mind:Wellbeing Hub Volunteer
Reason why you joined the panel?"I appreciate and enjoy the opportunity to give feedback and contribute towards improving the organisation (TOG Mind) as a whole." |
Phil
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Gilbert
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Role in relation to TOG Mind:Service User - Wellbeing Hub Attendee Reason why you joined the panel?"I want to show an interest in ventures and try to give support, as I have always found TOG services useful and interesting!" |
Role in relation to TOG Mind:Wellbeing Hub Co-ordinator Reason why you joined the panel?"From previous experience I have learned the value of co-production and the importance of having everybody's voice heard. This Lived Experience Panel gives us the perfect opportunity to be the best service we can because we listen to those who matter." |
Caroline
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Jessica
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Role in relation to TOG Mind:Service User - Wellbeing Hub Attendee Reason why you joined the panel?"I have a lot of lived experience so it's nice to have an input into the future of TOG Mind's services." |
Meet the Members!
Vicky
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About me:Mum of 3 boys – lived experience of postnatal depression with 2 children. I work with families in the NHS and children’s nurse. What made me join the LEF?Have been a service user and would like to assist and support the development and delivery of services. What does being a member of the LEF bring for me?
What do I hope the LEF will accomplish?Improve services, continue to support services in order for more access to service users. Therefore, more people receiving mental health support. How did I hear about the LEF?Via social media. Interesting fact about me:
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About me:My name is Sarah I’ve been with Oldham Living Well since June 2022, in the past 17 months I feel like my confidence has grown and its helped with my own mental health much more than taking anti-depressants. My hobbies are acting, reading autobiographies and socialising with my friends. What made me join the LEF?I was given a leaflet and thought this is something I would like to get involved with. What does being a member of the LEF bring for me?Being able to respect one another as well as helping me with my own mental health. What do I hope the LEF will accomplish?To continue to build my confidence, gain experience with helping others with mental health. How did I hear about the LEF?A leaflet given to a student at the women’s group I attended. Interesting fact about me:
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Sarah
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Paul
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About me:Lived experience with dementia. Founding member, trustee, and chairman of Springboard Oldham Dementia Carers. Active on many groups associated with Dementia. What made me join the LEF?To share my experience and knowledge. What does being a member of the LEF bring for me?Being amongst other service users and providers for mental health issue, sharing experiences. What do I hope the LEF will accomplish?Promote mental health knowledge and needs to the public and all health service providers. How did I hear about the LEF?Personal invitation Interesting fact about me:
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About me:I understand the struggles of mental health very well which is why I am eager to become a mental health nurse and help others in need. What made me join the LEF?It's a great opportunity to really make a difference and I think I'd learn a lot from it. What does being a member of the LEF bring for me?It will be a great experience within the community and I'd like to make the world a little brighter. What do I hope the LEF will accomplish?I hope we can make informed decisions with the service users best interests at heart. How did I hear about the LEF?Through a friend who works in mental health social care. Interesting fact about me:
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Nikki
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