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New Participation Plan: Putting Lived Experience at the Heart of Our Work 

  • Written by: Siobhan Coskeran
We have been working with a committed group of Z2K Experts by Experience, staff and trustees, over the last year, to develop a plan for how we put lived experience at the heart of the charity’s work.

In 2024, Z2K published its strategy setting out our ambition to embed lived experience across our charity by 2030. In 2025, a group of Z2K Experts by Experience, staff and trustees came together to bring that ambition to life. Over the course of 8 months, the group undertook training, reviewed Z2K’s existing practices, and designed a wider consultation that asked questions about how we can improve and extend participation. In subgroups – each focused on a part of Z2K’s work – Experts by Experience, staff and trustees then analysed the consultation results and developed concrete objectives that we can hold ourselves to over the coming years.  

The Z2K Participation Plan is the result of this collective effort. It explains the values and principles that will guide how Z2K works with people with lived experience, how and why we’re embedding participation, and how we’ll keep learning as we go. Alongside steps to maintain and strengthen our existing practices, it also includes new commitments to embed participation in the charity’s governance and in advice and representation services. 

Our Participation Plan

Why Participation matters at Z2K

At Z2K, we’re working for a future where everyone lives a life free from poverty. This vision shapes everything we do – and we know it can only be realised by working in genuine partnership with people who have first-hand experience of poverty, its causes, and its effects.  Meaningful participation of people with lived experience helps address the power imbalances that perpetuate poverty and inequality. It will also make sure that  Z2K’s research, campaigns, and services reflect their priorities, needs, and messages. This way, we hope to shape government policies that directly respond to people’s demands.   

Below, four Experts by Experience who were part of the group that co-produced the plan share their reflections on its aims and what participation means to them. 

Governance at Z2kRashmi
I have been involved with Z2K as an expert by experience on various projects, and I have found them very welcoming, inclusive, and empathetic, without any bias or judgment. When the opportunity arose, I was keen to contribute to the Participation Plan Group and the Governance sub-committee therein. I have been involved in shaping Z2K’s Participation Plan by sharing my lived experience and working alongside others to think about how decisions are made across the organisation. For me, the idea of people with lived experience sitting on the board feels powerful. It says that our knowledge isn’t just something to be consulted, but something that genuinely shapes how Z2K is run. When decisions are made by people who understand the issues from the inside, they are more likely to be grounded, realistic, and accountable to the people Z2K exists to support. Without diverse experts by experience at the table, there is a real risk that governance becomes disconnected from everyday realities and challenges. Policies can look good on paper but miss what matters. Meaningful involvement in governance, to me, means being trusted, supported, and listened to; not just present, but influential. By 2030, I hope Z2K’s trustee board feels open, diverse, and confident in sharing power. Strengthening participation behind the scenes can only make the charity stronger, more transparent, and more effective.
Policy & Campaigning at Z2KSteve
My name's Steve and I've been involved with Z2K's work as an Expert by Experience since 2022. I was also part of the policy and campaigns subgroup that co-produced objectives for participation in Z2K's policy work, campaigns, research and communications. Participation is extremely important to me. It gives me opportunities to fight back at weak and dangerous welfare and housing policy and legislation. It gives me validation as are those that suffer the same, wish to listen and hear more. It gives me the chance to use my experience to effect change and make things better. It provides me with an opportunity to connect with people who have been through similar experiences and as a result of that camaraderie and a social interaction with likeminded individuals. Participating in Z2K’s work also provides a huge level of humility and introspection as it keeps me grounded. For very often, my last thoughts are not for me but for those without a voice, without support, and no understanding. That solidarity drives me to keep resisting and advocating against high costs and inadequate incomes.
Casework Services at Z2KCamillia
My name is Camillia and I am the expert by experience for the Casework Subgroup. Initially when the idea of participation was first introduced to me, I was hesitant to get involved. Shyness and imposter syndrome took over and I was unsure that I could contribute anything of value. I was a great believer of the Z2K vision, and wanted to feel apart of something great, so with some guidance and training, I finally felt ready to jump in. Going through the journey of getting together as a subgroup, talking through different ideas, and standing up for what I believe in, gave me a sense of pride and purpose. As a BAME woman, I am always mindful of the opportunity I have to try and improve the standards for all minorities in all aspects of society. I hope I did it justice! Z2K have really shone a light on the benefits that Participation can have on organisations and individuals alike. Z2K's Casework services are committed to working alongside the individuals and families they support, truly embedding learning, responding to feedback and finding creative ways to gain those valuable insights from our diverse client base. I am grateful for the encouragement to participate, and will now forever be a champion for participation going forward.
Participation at Z2KRazia
I am Razia, and I have been involved with Z2K as an Expert by Experience for several years. I have spent over 20 years living in temporary accommodation while managing ongoing health challenges and caring for my child. Being moved repeatedly by my council, and losing money to cope with a broken housing system, has made life harder than it needed to be. Participating in Z2K’s work has shown me how powerful it is when people, who know what it is like to live in poverty or housing insecurity, are not just asked for opinions, but are genuinely part of decisions that shape the organisation. Our insights cannot be learned from reports or statistics. Z2K has given me a voice and a platform to share my perspective, and that makes a real difference. Over the next year, I hope Experts by Experience continue to have a real role across everything Z2K does. This includes joining discussions, shaping campaigns, influencing services, and being involved from the start rather than only giving feedback at the end. I also want to see more focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion because we live in a diverse society and this is a crucial part of Z2K’s work. When participation works well, Z2K becomes stronger, more connected to the communities it serves, and better able to make decisions that truly reflect real life.
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Participation in Practice at Z2K

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