User Voice

User Voice Supporting and developing people with convictions to ensure that lived experience is at the heart of an improved justice system.

We're sharing this opportunity on behalf of the research team to help broaden its reach. Daniel Thomas, Senior Investiga...
29/07/2026

We're sharing this opportunity on behalf of the research team to help broaden its reach.

Daniel Thomas, Senior Investigator within the criminal justice sector is undertaking research on the link between drug debt and su***de in prison.

Do you have lived experience of this topic?

If so, taking part and sharing your lived experience could help improve understanding and prevent future harm.

🚨 Do you or someone you know have a sibling in prison?We are looking for 18–25-year-olds who have experience of a siblin...
22/07/2026

🚨 Do you or someone you know have a sibling in prison?

We are looking for 18–25-year-olds who have experience of a sibling* in prison and who would like to be part of creating a community for connection and personal development, while also helping to co-create a new digital resource to support other young people, families, and services.

Going to prison can be life-changing for both those in prison and the families they leave behind. Young siblings are often overlooked and can experience stigma, shame, and isolation. Voices from the Shadows has been created to provide a space where these experiences can be shared, explored, and transformed into positive opportunities for growth and change.

Participants will receive:

➡️ Training on confidence building, emotional resilience, and healthy coping strategies.
➡️ Regular peer-support sessions through workshops, remote and face-to-face meetings, and drop-ins.
➡️ Vouchers for participation.
➡️ Support with communication and reconnection with siblings in prison.
➡️ The opportunity to help create a digital toolkit for other affected siblings.

🔗 To get more information or refer yourself or someone you know, fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=bFDpg-X9Y0mk4lqrAzsFrUNcAKECSs5Lph6RTCx8_ohUNjA5TVgzV0JNUTVGV0kyRlU4SEZRSFlRUyQlQCN0PWcu




*We define siblings as anyone a young person sees as a brother
or sister, including through adoption, foster care or residential
care.

We are really thrilled to have received funding from Henry Smith Foundation for a brand new User Voice Leadership Academ...
20/07/2026

We are really thrilled to have received funding from Henry Smith Foundation for a brand new User Voice Leadership Academy in partnership with charity Unlock - for people with criminal records. The Academy is an innovative lived-experience led programme which will create credible, recognised leadership pathways for people in prison and on release.

Built on extensive peer research and focus groups the Academy aims to develop resilient, confident, socially aware, and practically skilled leaders who can positively influence their environments, progress into employment, and contribute to systemic change. The Academy will run its first pilot at HMP Peterborough.

Stay tuned for more information as we begin to launch this programme!

Last week, our Public and Patient Voice (PPV) representatives Nathan and David were joined by staff team members Alex an...
10/07/2026

Last week, our Public and Patient Voice (PPV) representatives Nathan and David were joined by staff team members Alex and Bess at the Health and Justice Learning Hub's Life Saving Zero Responder film launch.

Access to first aid education and life-saving information has been a consistent theme throughout our work in London prisons. Time and again, people have told us how valuable these skills could be, both in custody and beyond.

We're delighted to see the Health and Justice Learning Hub turn that feedback into such an important resource. It was a privilege to contribute to the script and provide feedback during the review process, helping to ensure the film reflects the realities and needs of people with lived experience.

Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have.

Read more about it here: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/life-saving-zero-responder-film-launched-support-safer-prison-environments

CNWL

🚨 We're hiring Lived Experience Consultants! 🚨📍 London – working across various prisons and servicesHave you experienced...
07/07/2026

🚨 We're hiring Lived Experience Consultants! 🚨
📍 London – working across various prisons and services

Have you experienced prison, probation or electronic monitoring? Are you passionate about using your lived experience to create positive change? Do you have previous work/volunteering experience?

We're looking for Lived Experience Consultants to join our team!
This is an opportunity to use your insight to shape research, influence policy and improve services for everyone across the criminal justice system.

Supporting our mission of bringing together people with lived experience, partner organisations and decision-makers, you'll help uncover what really works, challenge what doesn't, and ensure the voices of those with first-hand experience are heard where it matters most.

If you're passionate about creating a fairer, more effective justice system, we'd love to hear from you.

To find out more or apply click here: https://www.uservoice.org/work-with-us/.

Please share this opportunity with your networks. The perfect candidate might not see this post—but they might see your share.

🚨 We're hiring Lived Experience Consultants! 🚨Have you experienced prison, probation or electronic monitoring? Are you p...
06/07/2026

🚨 We're hiring Lived Experience Consultants! 🚨

Have you experienced prison, probation or electronic monitoring? Are you passionate about using your lived experience to create positive change? Do you have previous work/volunteering experience?

We're looking for Lived Experience Consultants to join our team in:
📍 North West – working across HMP Altcourse and HMP Forest Bank
📍 Peterborough, Cambridgeshire – working with HMP Peterborough

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and manage a project that puts the voices of people with lived experience at the heart of improving the criminal justice system.

Working alongside people in prison, prison staff and partner organisations, you'll facilitate conversations, build relationships, support lived experience councils, and help turn real experiences into real solutions. Your work will influence decision-making, improve services and contribute to lasting change in prisons and beyond.

We're looking for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system who are organised, motivated and passionate about making a difference. Experience of coordinating projects, facilitating groups or bringing people together is a bonus—but we know these skills can come from many different backgrounds.

At User Voice, we believe lived experience is expertise. This is your chance to build a rewarding career while helping create a justice system that listens, learns and changes.

To find out more or apply click here - https://www.uservoice.org/work-with-us/

Please share this post with your networks. The right person may not be actively looking for a new role, but someone in your network might know exactly who would thrive in this opportunity. Every share helps us reach people whose voices deserve to be heard.

We are really proud of our team members Alex and Jenni for presenting at the National Police and Drug Diversion (PDD) sy...
24/06/2026

We are really proud of our team members Alex and Jenni for presenting at the National Police and Drug Diversion (PDD) symposium in Sheffield last week.

It was a brilliant day and it was lovely to see all our research colleagues under the same roof again!

Now that we have the evidence that PDD works - it's critical we work together to ensure:
1) Diversion is used much more.
2) Diversion is used equally for all everyone - particularly across different ethnic and socio-economic groups.
3) Interventions are targeted and accessible to all.

The success of this work strongly demonstrates the benefits of lived experience being meaningfully involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of PDD.

Have you read our new Impact Report yet?Over the past year, we’ve worked with over 8,600 people with lived experience — ...
22/06/2026

Have you read our new Impact Report yet?

Over the past year, we’ve worked with over 8,600 people with lived experience — a growing community of individuals shaping services from the inside out.

But this report isn’t just about the numbers of people we’ve worked with, it’s about people being listened to, finding purpose through effective rehabilitation, and creating change where it’s needed most, leading to an improved justice system for all.

📈 Across our programmes, many participants report increased confidence, improved skills, and a stronger sense of purpose — demonstrating the impact of being meaningfully involved in shaping change.

From prison wings to community programmes, individuals have influenced decisions and rediscovered their sense of value, as well as playing an active role in shaping better justice services:

💬 “I realised my past could have value and purpose.”

🔍 Discover our impact 🔊 Hear the voices 💡 See what’s changed

Read the full report:https://www.uservoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/10.-UserVoice_ImpactReport_2025_WEB-compressed1.pdf

No one has to be ‘part of the problem’ if they become part of the solution.Over the past year, we’ve helped create safer...
04/06/2026

No one has to be ‘part of the problem’ if they become part of the solution.

Over the past year, we’ve helped create safer communities by bringing together over 8,600 people with lived experience, working side by side with service leaders to create a safer and more effective justice system.

💬“I realised my past could have value and purpose.” NHS England Lived Experience Panel Member

💬“We have always relied on input from the prison population, but we have found that User Voice’s Prison Council is our most reliable, sensible and constructive source of opinion”. Prison Deputy Director

🤝From reducing violence and improving healthcare in prisons, to drug diversion schemes, Probation Inspections and out of court programmes for young people, our latest Impact report demonstrates the difference we have made.

🔗Read the full report here:https://www.uservoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/10.-UserVoice_ImpactReport_2025_WEB-compressed1.pdf

Get in touch to explore how we can transform the justice system together.

We’re celebrating Volunteers’ Week! 🎉 Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible 243 volu...
01/06/2026

We’re celebrating Volunteers’ Week! 🎉

Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible 243 volunteers. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on the people who support our work and sharing their experiences of volunteering with User Voice.

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to support people to grow, build skills and confidence, and create new opportunities for their futures.

“Volunteers bring so much to User Voice, and we are so pleased to support so many people with lived experience of the justice system. It’s a privilege to see them find meaning, fulfilment and develop with us as they have so much to give, they just need the opportunities they are so often denied. It’s also great that so many go on to work in paid roles with us and elsewhere in the sector.” - Lucie Russell, CEO.

Interested in getting involved? Head to the Volunteer page on our website to find out more and get in touch. 💬 https://www.uservoice.org/work-with-us/volunteer/

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