Powered by Voices of Lived Experience
We have co‑designed our new three‑year strategy alongside people with lived experience of mental ill‑health.
Through the active involvement of our Experts by Experience, Bucks Mind benefits from real insight that informs decisions and drives meaningful change.
“Being an Expert by Experience isn’t just about sharing your story with people who understand,” explains Caterina, one of our team of Experts by Experience. “It’s more about recognising that your voice counts. What you went through carries lessons, things that need to be seen and acknowledged, so that harm can be reduced and, where possible, prevented for others.”
Most recently, the Experts by Experience have given their time and invaluable insight to co-produce Buckinghamshire Mind’s new Strategy for 2026 to 2029.
“Bucks Mind is one of the few organisations that genuinely embraces co-production in the very real sense of the word,” says Amy, one of our Experts by Experience. “It is not an afterthought. It is not a small, tokenistic gesture. They strive to involve people with lived experience from the beginning of projects – taking us through the progress and stages to the end. They listen, take things on board and act. They also share any impact we have had with us. This is what co-production is all about and this is what it has been with the development of the strategy. A combined and co-produced effort across the board, with all people concerned playing their part.”
Namrata, another of our Experts by Experience, explains, “Being part of shaping this strategy has been a deeply meaningful experience for me. It felt like a space where lived experiences were truly valued, including those that are often less visible – such as the impact of life transitions, cultural adjustment and isolation. For me, it’s about creating something rooted in compassion, inclusion and real understanding.”
When creating our new strategy, Bucks Mind also spoke to our valuable volunteers, staff and the people we support, as well as a wide range of other important stakeholders working across Bucks. Everyone talked about how things feel especially tough right now, with growing levels of poverty putting a great strain on many people in the area, and NHS mental health services becoming overwhelmed by the number of people needing help and the complexity of issues they present with.
In this challenging environment, Bucks Mind’s services are needed now more than ever. Our new three-year strategy, along with our determination to advocate for our community and ability to be flexible and adapt to changing needs, will ensure Bucks Mind can reach and support more people in the county experiencing mental ill-health, now and in the years to come.
“Our plans for 2026 to 2029 will enable us to build on our achievements and make an even bigger impact in the years to come,” says Joel Rose, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Mind. “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved already, but we know that we need to do more.
“Over the next three years, we will all be focusing our efforts on increasing the impact we make in peoples’ lives. We will do this by ensuring that our services remain of the highest quality, adapting quickly, reaching more people through our partnership work and by using insights and experience to shape statutory services and play a leading role in developing best practice.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a passionate and committed team of Trustees, colleagues, volunteers and Experts by Experience. They enable us to do so much for our community. It is their continued dedication that will empower us to deliver on our plans for the future and ensure that no mind is left behind.”
To read Buckinghamshire Mind’s new Strategy for 2026 to 2029, please click the button below.