News > Collaboration in Practice: The Power of Peer Support and Lived Experience

Introduction

Following the publication of Inclusion’s Trauma-Informed Practice Guidance, our services are committed to embed the principles. In this article, Kayleigh, Senior Cluster Manager within Inclusion’s Health in Justice Services, discusses her experiences of working in a trauma-informed way, and highlights the benefits of co-producing with people who have lived experience.

Kayleigh’s story

Trauma-informed care is most effective when it is built on genuine relationships and a shared understanding. Peer support and lived-experience insight help form meaningful connections, reduce stigma, and create environments where people feel truly heard and understood.

Within the HiJ psychosocial drug and alcohol recovery teams, we are deeply committed to keeping mutual aid and lived-experience support at the heart of our work. By embedding these principles into everyday practice, we enhance our ability to deliver compassionate, responsive, and collaborative care, while also improving outcomes and enriching professional practice.

When professionals and individuals with lived experience work together—co-producing services, informing practice, and shaping support pathways—we create approaches that are safer, more empowering, and better aligned with the realities of trauma. This collaboration not only improves the quality of care but also fosters resilience, drives meaningful change, and nurtures a culture where recovery is a truly shared journey.