‘Embedding lived experience across our work’

The SSA is pleased to introduce the first members of its lived experience panel. The panel includes people from across the UK with lived or living experience of addiction, including family members and carers.

At the end of April 2026, the SSA invited applications for a new lived experience panel. Nearly 80 people applied, which exceeded our expectations. Dr Steve Sharman, an SSA trustee and Reader in Psychology at Loughborough University, said:

“We were delighted by the strong response to our call for applications and the exceptionally high standard of applicants. Selecting the inaugural panel was no easy task, and the selection panel worked carefully to bring together a diverse group of members from across the UK, representing a broad range of lived experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.”

The first members of the panel include people with different personal and professional backgrounds, different skillsets, and experience of different types of addictive products and behaviours.

Meet the panel

• Alan Chalmers is in recovery from alcohol use disorder and has spent many years volunteering and working in peer support. He is passionate about encouraging others through lived experience, education, and recovery-focused support.
• Caroline Cook works across lived experience, criminal justice, and mental health advisory groups and is currently completing an MSc in Applied Forensic Psychology. Drawing on her own experiences of addiction and multiple disadvantage, she supports research and policy that improve outcomes for people affected by addiction.
• Catherine Curlett is a recovery coach supporting people affected by gambling harm and is due to start an MSc in Contemporary Drug and Alcohol Studies. As an affected other, she is committed to raising awareness and ensuring that lived experience informs research, policy, and practice.
• David Dunn is the founding Chief Executive Officer of Release Mates, a national charity supporting prison leavers in recovery from addiction. Drawing on lived experience, David established the charity on his own release from prison, and has led the organisation’s growth into a nationwide service. He is passionate about improving recovery outcomes through peer support and bridging the gap between custody and the community.
• Lisa Erlandsen is Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Alcohol Health Alliance and a Master’s student in Addictions at King’s College London. Combining professional expertise with lived experience of recovery, she is passionate about improving addiction treatment, policy, and research. Lisa has first-hand knowledge of inpatient, residential, and community treatment pathways for alcohol and other drug addictions, alongside interest and experiences in medical, psychological, social, and mutual aid approaches to treatment.
• Paul Freeman is studying Psychology with Criminal Behaviour at the University of Wolverhampton, with a particular interest in addiction, mental health and forensic psychology research. His lived experience of gambling-related harm informs his work in addiction research, peer support, and student wellbeing. He is committed to ensuring that lived experience shapes research, policy, and services, ultimately improving outcomes for people affected by addiction.
• Dakota Jones works in the third sector supporting people affected by addiction and homelessness. Drawing on a background in human rights and a commitment to LGBT+ inclusion, they are passionate about ensuring that diverse lived experiences are reflected in research and policy.
• Liam Knowles combines lived experience of addiction and recovery with extensive professional experience across the addiction sector, having worked for national and local charities, local authorities, and a specialist GP practice. Now undertaking a PhD, he is passionate about strengthening the role of lived experience in research and service development.
• Sarah Markham brings lived experience of addiction and mental health challenges alongside a strong academic background. She is committed to ensuring that people with lived experience play a meaningful role in addiction research and recovery-focused initiatives, having found purpose in her own life after getting involved in patient and public involvement and engagement in research and supporting people experiencing addiction.
• Sophie McCluskey is a researcher based in North Wales whose work focuses on alcohol, other drug use, and related issues. Alongside her research, she supports recovery communities and brings personal, professional, and voluntary experience to improving addiction research and practice. She is particularly interested in how lived and living experience can be meaningfully involved in research, policy, and service delivery.
• Sharon Nelson is a lived experience advocate and researcher specialising in gambling-related harm. She is a member of the Armed Forces and holds an LLB (Hons), with an academic focus on advanced criminal law and the relationship between gambling-related harm and crime. Sharon brings lived experience alongside legal training and evidence-informed analysis to strengthen duty of care approaches within gambling policy, prevention, and regulatory systems.
• Allison Smith draws on her lived experience of gambling addiction and recovery to improve understanding of gambling-related harm and the lasting impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities. Her experiences have shaped a strong commitment to ensuring that people with lived experience are not only listened to, but are actively involved in shaping research, policy, and support services. Allison is particularly passionate about increasing awareness of the unique experiences of women affected by gambling harm and challenging the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.
• Peter Yarwood is the founder and Director of Engagement and Training at Red Rose Recovery, a lived experience non-profit organisation that seeks to support people struggling with addiction find recovery through community-based support. Peter plays a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the organisation, ensuring that it continues to provide the highest level of support and guidance to those seeking recovery.

The panel will be chaired on an interim basis by Mel McManus. Mel is a Lived Experience Co-Applicant for the Policy Research Unit in Addictions at King’s College London where she co-facilitates the Addiction Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Network, helping to bring together people with lived experience and researchers to support addiction policy research. She is passionate about advancing addiction research through lived experience, co-production, and meaningful collaboration.

How the panel will make an impact

The panel will provide a formal route for people with lived and living experience to:

• offer feedback on SSA policies, procedures, and funding schemes
• contribute to the development of events and conferences
• identify gaps, assumptions, and areas for improvement in research
• challenge stigma and misconceptions around addiction

Panel members will also have opportunities to contribute to SSA subcommittees, helping to ensure that perspectives informed by lived experience are represented across the organisation’s governance and activities.

Dr Rob Calder, the SSA’s Chief Executive Officer said:

“The creation of our new lived experience panel marks an important milestone for the SSA. We are embedding lived experience across our work, to ensure that our research, policies, funding, and events are informed by people who have direct experience of addiction. This will make us ask better questions, challenge assumptions, tackle stigma, and place the realities and priorities of people’s lives at the centre of everything we do.

“We are incredibly grateful to our panel members for sharing their time, experience, and expertise. We look forward to working with them and learning from them as they help shape the SSA’s work in the years ahead.”

by Fiona Hughes