Tag Archives: community voices

Our Stories Matter – Poem by Matthew McKenzie #PCREF

Stories are powerful. They carry memory, experience, and truth in ways that forms and systems often cannot. For unpaid minority carers, our stories are not just reflections, they are essential to understanding the full picture of care.

I’ve recently shared a poem, “Our Stories Matter,” from my upcoming poetry book. It explores the importance of lived experience, intergenerational memory, and the voices that are too often overlooked within health and social care systems.

While assessments, care plans, and clinical notes tell part of the story, they rarely capture the depth of what families and carers experience every day. Our stories provide context. They bring meaning and complete the picture.

This is especially important within the context of PCREF, where recognising lived experience and cultural understanding is key to improving care and addressing inequalities. When carers’ voices are not heard, something vital is missing.

This poem is a reminder that our stories are central.

🎥 Watch “Our Stories Matter” here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sVie4YSdbc

Have Your Say: Supporting Safer Mental Health Discharge for Black Communities

If you’ve supported someone through a stay in mental health services, your experience could help improve care for others.

Researchers at The University of Manchester are inviting people with lived experience—including carers to take part in an online workshop focused on improving how mental health services support people during hospital discharge, particularly for individuals from Black heritage communities.

Reason for research

Evidence shows that people from Black communities often face poorer outcomes in mental health care, including barriers to access and challenges during discharge from hospital.

To address this, researchers are working to make future services and research more inclusive, culturally responsive, and grounded in real experiences. Hearing directly from carers is a key part of that work .

Who is running this?

The workshop is being led by Dr Natasha Tyler, a Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, as part of work linked to improving future research and care approaches.

The session will also be supported by facilitators with lived experience, including carers, to ensure discussions are grounded and meaningful .

Who can take part?

You may be interested if you:

  • Have cared for someone who has been an inpatient in adult mental health services
  • Have experience of discharge from mental health care
  • Want to share your perspective to improve future support

What’s involved?

  • Format: Online (MS Teams)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Dates: Sessions planned between 23rd April and 8th May 2026
  • Payment: £60 as a thank-you for your time

Participants will receive questions in advance to help prepare for the discussion.

Why get involved?

Taking part is a chance to:

  • Help shape future mental health research and services
  • Ensure carers’ voices are included in decision-making
  • Contribute to reducing inequalities in care
  • Share your experience in a supportive environment

How to express interest

If you’d like to take part, you can follow the link in the invitation to share your availability or contact the research team directly.

https://doodle.com/meeting/organize/id/dwy8n1Ma

You’re also welcome to share this opportunity with others who may be interested. For more info, contact Dr Natasha at natasha.tyler@manchester.ac.uk