Lived Experience Advisory Board

West London Welcome’s Lived Experience Advisory Board influences and shapes decision-making at West London Welcome, contributes to service delivery, and co-produces activities that meet the real needs of the community. It is comprised of twelve community members of West London Welcome, all of whom have lived experience of seeking asylum in the UK and are at various different stages of the asylum process. Advisory Board members are all deeply embedded in the community and come to the West London Welcome community centre on a regular basis, to participate in social activities, for classes, for advice and support, or to volunteer.

The Advisory Board is consulted on by staff and the Board of Trustees for input on the direction of the charity. Members of the Advisory Board work together throughout the year, meet in-person quarterly to feed into upcoming Trustee meetings, and provide strategic support to West London Welcome to ensure staff and Trustees understand the issues affecting Advisory Board members and the wider local community of refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants.

One member of the Advisory Board is also a Trustee of West London Welcome, facilitating a direct relationship between the Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees.

Advisory Board meetings are also attended by West London Welcome’s Communications and Administration Officer, who has lived experience of migration, and West London Welcome’s Deputy Director, who feeds back the thoughts and decisions of the Advisory Board to the charity’s senior leadership team.

Many past and present Advisory Board members have participated in media interviews to share their experiences of the asylum system in their own words, and are active contributors to the charity’s advocacy work.