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Sign up for the latest news, co-production tips, training opportunities and more.

National Expert Influencing Forum (NEIF)

The National Expert Influencing Forum (NEIF) empowers individuals with lived experience of multiple disadvantage to influence national policies and practices. Hosted by Expert Link and funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation, the NEIF ensures that the voices of those facing challenges like homelessness, crisis support, unsuitable accommodation, and unjust benefit assessments are heard at the highest levels.

At its heart, the NEIF believes in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. The forum is made up of three subcommittees, each focusing on key areas identified by members:

  1. Access to Local Crisis Support – Ensuring people have access to essential services and discretionary support when facing destitution.
  2. Improving Supported Housing – Advocating for safe, high-quality supported housing with appropriate infrastructure and empowering support systems.
  3. Fair Benefits Assessments – Tackling unfair work capability and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments to ensure people receive the benefits they need without barriers.

Forum members work directly with policymakers, government departments, and decision-makers to create real change in these areas. Members also gain training and skills in storytelling, influencing, facilitation, and peer research, ensuring they are equipped to shape a fairer future.

By championing co-production, amplifying voices, and fostering skills, NEIF is transforming systems to create a society where everyone can thrive—not just survive.

If you would like to get involved or find out more – please email: shannon.johnstone@expertlink.org.uk

A Rough Sleeping Lived Experience Forum for MHCLG

Expert Link is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on embedding the voices of people with lived experiences into their policy making.

Changing Futures

Expert Link is working with Westminster City Council as part of the Changing Futures programme – ‘testing new ways of bringing together public and community sector partners to help people change their lives for the better.’

Conversations on Co-production

This is our monthly Conversations on Co-production event, a free and safe space to chat all things co-production.

Co-production in London Day Centres

Thanks to the generosity of Trust for London, Expert Link is working with five day centres across London to develop their ways of working so that people accessing the services are treated as equal partners in strategic decisions within them. As part of the project, those accessing services will also be empowered to collectively influence key Government policies affecting rough sleepers in London.

Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN)

Expert Link has been funded by GambleAware to support people with lived experience of gambling harms develop a network that is an ‘independent voice raising awareness and delivering support for people with gambling related harms.’

National Advisory Panel

We are people from across England with lived experience of disadvantage who are passionate about giving people a voice in key decisions made about their lives.

We were set-up in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of ensuring that national Government heard the impact of pandemic from those with direct experience of disadvantage.

Welfare Change Lived Experience Group

Expert Link has been funded by the Lloyds Foundation to support a group of experts from across the UK with lived experience of multiple disadvantage and the social security system influence change.

The group are passionate about improving access to benefits for those experiencing multiple disadvantages, and can provide expertise, practical advice and solutions to help overcome the barriers people face.