The Value of Lived Experience: Value, Payment & Recognition

by | Apr 18, 2026 | Uncategorized

“I want to ensure that other People with lived experience are valued and rightly compensated for their unique and valuable insights. So often many assume my input would be voluntary, but I try hard to advocate and educate potential partners of the importance of remuneration. It acknowledges the time, effort, and expertise contributed by people with lived experience. For me, this recognition not only ensures that I can continue to pay for the ongoing expenses but because I feel more valued,  I want to contribute more!”

Emma Gee.

I’m in a meeting regarding my involvement for an upcoming project where I’m told:
“It’d only be a few times a year but we’d love your insights and expertise”.

“Sounds good” I say, “I’d love to be involved!”

She then adds: “Oh just to let you know that it would be on a voluntary basis” she sneaks in quickly “that’s ok though right?”

I tell her that it’s not, that my lived experience is valuable. I ask if there are other people they’re engaging with that are doing this on an unpaid basis and they say yes.

But then they let me know that they really want my involvement so they’re willing to pay me. 

I tell her “if you don’t pay the others then I won’t be doing this work either.” 

I advocate for everyone by telling them that it’s not about the money, it’s about the value that I bring and I want to advocate for everyone’s value that they add. I’m sure the other people that sit on the board in a full time role are valued for their time and expertise. This needs to be consistent across everyone that is involved. 

I write in my book:

I’ve experienced, sometimes, that there’s an assumption that I have all the time in the world to donate towards other people’s work. They also see the huge value that my lived experience and insights bring and regard my contribution as highly important.

So why is it not valued and budgeted in? 

The other side of this is not only so the person feels valued, but also that the people working on the project feel that the person’s contribution is valued from the other peoples perspectives. 

It’s often assumed that because it’s not a large time commitment, then it’s okay to make the involvement voluntary. I don’t believe that there needs the be a price tag attached to the role, but some remuneration for a person’s time and expertise will add so much value on both sides.

How are you ensuring there’s budget for the person with the experience and knowledge? What are some ways that everyone gets to feel valued without needing to donate their time and energy?