Our Coproduction Groups

Nothing about us, without us.

This principle is at the heart of our work. It means people with lived experience have a meaningful voice in decisions about mental health and social care.

SUF brings people together through two welcoming groups:

• My Voice Champions Group
• Lived Experience Group

Together, these groups shape SUF’s work and contribute to key programmes led by Suffolk County Council, including the Mental Health Independent Lives Board and People at the Heart of Care. They also help the Integrated Care Board understand what matters to local people when setting commissioning priorities and improving services.

Both groups meet every six weeks, mainly online, with one or two opportunities to meet in person each year. Visit our calendar and events page to find upcoming dates.

Growing Coproduction Through Volunteering

Our My Voice Champions programme has grown SUF’s coproduction through volunteering. Six Champions have worked with Adult Social Care and wider system partners, sharing practical insight about service design, access and what good support should look like. They have also helped plan and deliver SUF’s Stepping Forward events.

Our My Voice Champions have also influenced the commissioning of mental health supported housing and the development of digital support options.

Lived Experience Group: Making Lived Experience a Golden Thread

The Lived Experience Group offers a trusted space for people to say what is working, what is not and what needs to change. This insight guides SUF’s priorities and helps us bring clear, consistent messages to partners and decision-makers. Alongside the My Voice Champions, members help shape involvement opportunities from the first idea through to delivery.

Our Partnerships

We work with NHS teams, the Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, Suffolk County Council, Adult Social Care, service planners, commissioners, funders, and community and voluntary organisations. Our coproduction supports the Integrated Care Board’s health and mental health priorities, including through the People and Communities Assembly, so lived experience can inform planning, commissioning and service improvement.

We also work closely with Suffolk County Council to strengthen coproduction across Adult Social Care. This includes supporting the Mental Health Independent Lives Board and People at the Heart of Care programme, helping people influence how support is designed, delivered and improved. By working together, we turn people’s experiences into practical action and make sure they can see how their views have made a difference.

To learn more about our approach and the difference people’s contributions make, visit our Coproduction pages and read our You Said, We Did reports.

Get Involved

New members and volunteers are always welcome. You do not need previous experience—only an interest in making a difference and helping improve mental health and social care services.