Dr Gill Buck will join a panel at Birkbeck, University of London, 9 June 2025, 18:00 — 20:00. This event will explore co-production, lived experience and peer research within the Social Sciences and beyond. It will bring together a panel of experts – including those with lived experience of the law – to discuss and reflect upon the challenges and opportunities of co-produced research and to launch the short film ‘What Do you Think?’
Social Sciences Festival 2025: Co-produced Research in the Justice System
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Unlock Strategy Launch and John Samuels Inaugural Lecture
Read more: Unlock Strategy Launch and John Samuels Inaugural LectureOn 10 June 2026, Gill and Emma attended the launch of the new 5 year strategy for Unlock – for people with criminal records.
The event was held at the beautiful Lincoln’s Inn, London, in honour of their long serving president, Judge John Samuels KC.
Prof Shadd Maruna It included a brilliant keynote from Professor Shadd Maruna (UKRI project mentor and Unlock Trustee) and strong, passionate vision from our visiting research lead and Unlock CEO Paula Harriott. Together, they reflected on the organisation’s history and the legacy of its co-founders, including Bobby Cummines, who sadly passed away this year, and shared an important vision for the future.
Emma, Paula, Shadd and Gill You can read more about Unlock priorities here.
The event also gave us a further opportunity to share with funders, policymakers and lived experience leaders our own Manifesto for Coproducing Knowledge; which can be accessed here. -
A Neglected History of Lived Experience-Led Criminal Justice, University of Manchester
Read more: A Neglected History of Lived Experience-Led Criminal Justice, University of ManchesterOn 3 June 2026, Gill Buck spoke at the at University of Manchester introducing a recently published paper. The talk outlined themes in participatory justice across the 1800s. The discussion afterwards focused on historical methods, ethical dilemmas and conflicts in participatory justice work.
We extend our sincere thanks to Marion Vannier, Helen Gair and David Gadd for your hospitality and to project mentor Shadd Maruna for support.
Read the paper here…
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European Social Work research conference, Scotland 2026
Read more: European Social Work research conference, Scotland 2026In April, Gill spoke at the European Conference for Social Work Research (ECSWR) in Aberdeen. Gill and colleague Dr Danica Darley from the University of Sheffield presented their reflective chapter “Lived experience informed criminal justice social work in England: A case of generative justice?”, which has been published in The Routledge International Handbook of Criminal Justice Social Work.
Social work internationally is rooted in solidarity with people facing social disadvantage, yet those with lived experience of criminalisation remain largely excluded from shaping the knowledge and practice that affect their lives. We argued that this gap undermines the profession’s commitment to inclusion. In response, we explored how Generative Justice can help reimagine a more equitable approach. Drawing on lived experience-informed practice in criminal justice settings, we highlighted how peer-led and co-productive models can build trust, inspire hope, and strengthen services, while also acknowledging the ethical complexities involved.
Using the seven principles of Generative Justice, we showed how social work can move beyond risk-averse, paternalistic systems toward practices grounded in recognition, reciprocity, and collective change. Ultimately, we called for dismantling structural barriers and centring experiential knowledge to transform social work into a more just, inclusive, and socially responsive profession.
Gill, Danica and colleague Shirley in Aberdeen
