News & Events

In 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.

In April, Paula visited beautiful Bali to place lived experience research and activism on the world stage.

Joined by Dwayne Antojado from Adelaide University, Donna Arrondelle from the University of Southampton and colleagues from Penal Reform International, Paula represented the team at the 7th World Congress on Probation and Parole, sharing emerging research findings, policy-based activities and advocating for meaningful roles for people with lived experience in probation and parole.

Talks were aimed at sharing emerging research findings, policy-based activities and advocating for meaningful roles for people with lived experience in probation and parole.

Gill also popped in (virtually) to give an overview of the history of lived experience led criminal justice in the UK and Ireland.

To read more about this work, visit Dwayne’s blog, or the team’s history article.

In February 2026, team members attended the Flip of the Coin and REALITIES Conference, Alness, Scottish Highlands to share findings from a photovoice study of Flip of the Coin, a women-led and lived experience driven community organisation in Scotland.

Founded and led by a woman who wanted to create the community she herself had lacked before and after imprisonment, Flip of the Coin is rooted in the belief that lived experiences, particularly of adversity, disconnection and transition can offer important insights to help shape healthier communities.

Set up in 2024, the organisation works to improve people’s wellbeing, confidence and sense of connection through creative, nature based community activities.

The conference included talks from Lucy Campbell, Flip founder, who introduced the work of the organisation, their partners Dr Marisa De Andrade, who introduced the REALITIES research programme, Dr Kath Jones, who has developed a creative GP consulting pathway and network, and collaborator Cecile Taylor MSC who presented a beautiful, coproduced photovoice-collage of the community health benefits of Flip of the Coin.

Gill Buck introduced visual findings from a UKRI funded photovoice study of Flip’s lived experience-led community work. The themes from our study, which were codeveloped with people working with Flip of the Coin included Nature, Creativity, Growing Together, Nourishment, Family and New Pathways Forward.

These themes revealed how Flip created conditions for people to grow, feel alive and thrive.

Rather than organising around risks or labels, Flip was built as a shared community space where people meet as human beings.

Through creativity, walks in nature and shared relationships, Flip offered care, connection and belonging in place of judgement. Growth happened collectively, within communities, through trust and mutual support. Creativity restored confidence, while pathways forward became clear through a growing sense of agency.

The organisation therefore provides a blueprint for re-thinking community health and justice. By rooting support in lived experiences of adversity and organising around strengths and belonging rather than deficiency, Flip shows how environments themselves can be structured to nurture growth, connections to others and rootedness in place.