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Lived experience exists in every part of WILD, from our WILD workers to our leadership team and trustees. 

83% of our leadership team and 75% of our WILD workers have experience of young parenthood. 

We know what life in a young parent family is like

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What does lived experience mean? 

Lived experience means having direct, first-hand involvement in something. For us, this means being a young parent or the child or relative of a young parent. 

 

Why does lived experience matter? 

Lived experience matters because some very skilled people design and work in services aimed at helping young parents, but they don’t always know what life is like for young parent families. 

That means they might not know what a person has been through or how services can make people feel. The way they speak might not be relatable to young parents, and the way they work might make it difficult for families to use services. 

If this happens, young people are less likely to use those services, so they miss out on the chance to have a better life. If experts and people with lived experience work together, they can design better services, and more families will use them. 

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What does lived experience look like at WILD? 

WILD Families with lived experience

100% of our WILD families have lived experience of young parenthood. 

One of our most important jobs is giving WILD parents and families a voice so their experiences are seen, felt and heard.

 

Our WILD families are often invited to take part in some very important projects, giving their feedback and ideas to make things better for young parents. 

WILD Workers with lived experience

75% of our WILD workers have lived experience of young parenthood. 

Our WILD Workers deliver family-centred support in the community. They know our families best and they listen and observe to make sure we understand what families need.

Because they have lived experience, they know how to build relationships with WILD families and how to empower them to have the best life possible. 

A leadership team with lived experience 

83% of our leadership team have lived experience of young parenthood.  

Our leadership team sets out what we want to achieve for our WILD families and how we will do it.

 

Because they have lived experience, they know what works and doesn't work when supporting families. They can also represent WILD families so that more people understand and can empathise with their experiences. 

Trustees with lived experience  

40% of our trustees have lived experience of young parenthood.

Our trustees make sure that WILD is running smoothly and is fulfilling its duties as a charity.

 

Because they have lived experience, they have insight and empathy and can recognise when WILD is having an impact in the eyes of our WILD families. 

Lived Experience Case Studies

Dads Make Stories Magic

WILD young dads took part in a national campaign with Book Trust to get dads to read with their children more regularly.

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BBC New Creatives
poetry project 

WILD parent, Elowan, produced a poetic exploration into the life of a young parent, mentored by artist Ella Frears and Screen Cornwall.

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Simple Truths
art exhibition

WILD dads curated Simple Truths, an art exhibition held at The Exchange Art Space in Penzance. 

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Pelvic Health Film Series

WILD parents worked with Health Innovation South-West and researchers at the University of Exeter to develop three videos about pelvic health muscle exercises.     

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WILD is a registered charity no. 1097693

© 2024 WILD Young Parents Project

The Old Art School, Clinton Road,  

 Redruth, Cornwall 

 TR15 2QE

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