Lived Experience

Hi, I am Stuart ‘Smudge’ Smith and I am a lived experience advocate. Having been through quite a bit in my life, it feels like the right time to move on from a lot of the voice over work I have been doing alongside manual work. I still have a lot of fun with my voices, but its really just a fun hobby now. I am looking to do more around lived experience, as well as mental health.

What is lived experience?

I hear you wonder. Lived experience is a first hand account and perspective, of the issues some of us face in life. Whether its mental health, physical health, parenting or physical abuse you suffered in childhood. We have a unique knowledge and understanding on various topics.

I would describe myself as your typical working-class man in his late 50’s. My approach is one of common sense, honesty and respecting each others world views. Living in social housing following chronic kidney disease and losing my health. I have gained much resilience from the adversity I have faced, I now pass on those experiences. Using my lived experience in areas like mental health for example and through peer support.

The LXV on Discord

The LXV stands for Lived Experience Voice. A platform where we share our lived experience and world views. This can often be used by academics and decision makers, helping to shape policy. I sit on the Ministry of Housing Social housing residents panel for example. Passing on my lived experience as a social tenant on housing issues. I believe our perspectives can help give a more balanced view in decision making. This can help in areas around policy, health inequalities and many more. As well as public speaking, where I have experience from voiceover work and radio. I am sure I may revisit an idea I had for a podcast at some point as well. Check out The LXV on Discord

Social Housing & Fair Rent

Living in social housing, I talk openly about homelessness, social housing and how a change of circumstance can affect us. My time on dialysis, as well as 29 years of my kidney transplant. How secure housing is vital for our health and wellbeing. Then following that change of circumstance, we can become strong independent individuals. Social housing has helped me both individually, as well as being a single parent.

As I am now in my grey years in life, I want try and pass on my housing lived experience where I can.  Currently I sit on the social housing residents panel, as part of Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. As well as the Housing Ombudsman Resident Panel and local authority resident panels.