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“A part of a bigger whole”: Julian’s journey with the National Expert Citizens Group (NECG)

The National Expert Citizens Group (NECG) is a group for people experiencing multiple disadvantage – a combination of health and social needs such as poverty, homelessness, involvement with the criminal justice system, mental-ill health, neurodiversity, discrimination or substance misuse.

Facilitated by Revolving Doors, the NECG is part of the Changing Futures programme, a £91.8 million joint funded initiative between Government and The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The programme funds local organisations working in partnership to better support those who experience multiple disadvantage.

This week, the NECG is showcasing groundbreaking work to tackle the four strategic priorities it set in 2022: dual diagnosis, housing and homelessness, the justice system and (neuro)diversity. As part of this, NECG members are sharing their own stories: real-life examples of the power of co-production to change lives and shape solutions. This is Julian’s story:

There are many reasons why I choose to be a member of the NECG. Solution based approaches. Ideas. Sense of belonging. Far reaching. Well positioned. Well placed. We have made things possible and can make them happen.

I must have been a part of it all since around 2019 when I became aware of the NECG and Revolving Doors as a beneficiary of Opportunity Nottingham, a Fulfilling Lives Programme that ran for eight years.

Before getting involved with Opportunity Nottingham and without giving too much detail, I’d already gone through a lot. Divorce. Loss of my family and friends. Loss of my business. My mum committing suicide. Dangerous drug and alcohol use and abuse.

I ended up in a cycle of crisis and crime: repeated periods of aggressive addiction and alcoholism with worsening consequences. Homelessness, both rough sleeping on the street and in hostels. Low-level crime. Police cells and further arrests leading to my first experience of prison on remand, then being sectioned for a second and third time.

After years of active addiction, homelessness, dealings with the criminal justice system and mental health services I’d lost my way. I’d lost sight of a future: in all honesty I wasn’t sure if I’d live or die. I was completely broken with no hope, feeling scared – at times terrified – isolated and alone, and like I was going round in circles from custody, to hospitals or A&E, to sectioning and around again. I didn’t really know what was happening to me.

I knew my mental health was poor, but it was still an initial shock to me being diagnosed with type one bipolar. However, I was later relieved as it helped me understand some of my behaviour, thoughts and feelings.

Let’s just say I’ve got plenty of lived and learned experience – as you can see, I had most of the multiple disadvantage boxes ticked!

Finding purpose and meaning and shaping system change

Presently I’m 18 months clean and sober, and I’ve managed with support to achieve and make significant and healthy changes. I know there are different definitions of recovery. Mine has needed to be abstinence but I know it’s whatever works for each person. Since that time the work I’ve done with the NECG and Revolving Doors has been invaluable, incredible in fact!

I’ve made radical changes during my time with Revolving Doors and the NECG. I’m often called upon to offer a voice of lived experience and learned experience. I’m part of something bigger than me. A part of a bigger whole.

Revolving Doors and the NECG along with Changing Futures have been instrumental in helping me to find new purpose and meaning. Since becoming a member of Revolving Doors and the NECG I have acquired skills and quality training that has enabled me to offer support to others, helping them and myself to feel our lived experience is valued.

Offering this has given me a chance to be seen and heard, working together with ongoing developmental opportunities and possibilities. Hopefully I am helping to influence and shape system change for people just like me who have experienced multiple disadvantage.

On a personal level I’ve received consistent support and encouragement to develop myself and grow.

I’ve gained confidence and improved my self-esteem and have better self-worth. It’s made me a better person, I’m more focused. I don’t know if sounds silly, but I’ll say it anyway because it’s how it is for me: I’ve got purpose, meaning, healing and love.

Through Revolving Doors and the NECG we are connecting, teaching, learning. The more I’ve been able to help others the better I’ve felt about myself. We share a common goal and direction.

It’s not only a great way of meeting like-minded people with similar and different life stories. It has afforded me many new experiences: plenty of opportunity, growth from experiential learning, being valued, working toward system change, forward thinking, change making. Inclusive. Innovative. Motivational.

Change is hard at the best of times but it’s easier as a group, where we have a creative and a powerful way of getting the job done.

If I can help someone through difficulties with my experience, I’m doing something right. It’s not about bad people trying to be good, it’s more about sick people trying to get well. It’s been really important for me to replace my life with new stuff and things to get on with.

Celebrating the wins and looking forward

Having become a member of the NECG has and is opening doors to a new way of life, making up for choices I’ve previously taken in my life. I’m creating new memories from meaningful engagement and a wealth of new experiences. I’m not stuck in the past, not wanting to stay in bed anymore.

We’ve got 15 Changing Futures cities supporting themselves and each other up and down the country, hopefully learning from one another where links have been made – in part by the NECG.

It’s about celebrating the wins and learning from trial and development. In my hometown of Nottingham, we’ve now got embedded multiple disadvantage practitioners across the board in probation, primary care, mental health services, drug and alcohol service and housing.

Multiple disadvantage is being recognised as a result of Changing Futures and the work of the NECG and Revolving Doors. We’re influencing system change, with upskilling, co-production, strength-based trauma-informed approaches and more.

I’ve gone on long enough I think, but this is all that I am. All that I can be. And all that I can become. I am very grateful!

Julian’s wordcloud of how the NECG makes him feel: