Left to right Katy Cleece of Social Work Research Lead at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Paula Wheeler Equitable Place-Based Health and Care Theme Manager, Made by Mortals Team Members

A recent workshop highlighting the power of lived experience in addiction recovery research hosted by The Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast and Made by Mortals brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, and those with lived experience from Blackburn’s Early Break group to examine how personal stories can reshape understanding of addiction recovery.

The Why Can’t You Be Normal training package was developed in collaboration with ARC NWC, Lancaster University, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHR), and Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust (LSCFT). Designed to challenge stereotypes around addiction and family recovery, the initiative placed women with lived experience at its core, ensuring their insights shaped both content and delivery.

At the heart of the two-hour session was Why Can’t You Be Normal, an audio story co-created with parents in recovery. Their voices sparked meaningful discussions about addiction’s complexities and the role of lived experience in reshaping research.

More than just a discussion, the workshop actively challenged misconceptions through immersive storytelling and interactive activities. Attendees explored the realities of addiction recovery and saw first hand how those with lived experience can shift perceptions and drive change in research.

Participants were introduced to Hayley, a fictional character based on real experiences, navigating the challenging process of early recovery while reuniting with her children. Through immersive audio storytelling, the audience gained first-hand insight into the emotional and practical challenges faced by parents in recovery.

Paula Wheeler, Equitable Place-Based Health and Care Theme Manager at ARC NWC, reflected on the success of the workshop. “The workshop provided a safe and engaging space for attendees to listen, learn, and reflect on how lived experience can shape addiction recovery research. It was inspiring to see the conversations sparked by Why Can’t You Be Normal and the ways participants connected with the material.”

Katy Cleece, Social Work Research Lead at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, emphasised the empowerment that came from the event: “It was incredible to see parents with lived experience from this dedicated group take the lead in educating researchers about the barriers they face and the changes needed in research approaches. Their voices are now shaping future discussions, and the momentum built in this workshop will continue to drive meaningful impact with transparency.”

The workshop concluded with a discussion on how research teams can incorporate lived experience into their work in a more meaningful way. Attendees left with a toolkit, including audio stories, transcripts, and signposting resources, to facilitate discussions and training sessions within their own organisations.

“This workshop showed the power of storytelling and participatory arts is shifting perspectives on addiction and recovery. By working with parents in recovery, we’ve been able to create something truly immersive that helps researchers and professionals connect with lived experiences in a meaningful way.” Tess Keeble of Made by Mortals

Following the success of this event, plans are already underway to host additional workshops, expanding the reach and impact of this approach. Those interested in future sessions or research workshops facilitated by Made by Mortals can contact admin@madebymortals.org for more details.