SUMMIT VOICES
SHARING STORIES
Everyone has a voice, and we believe every voice matters. The personal stories we share have the power to open hearts and minds, revealing to the world what life is really like for those who may be facing challenges and inequalities every day.
SHAPING CHANGE
By championing the voices of those from across Essex, together we can design and help shape services that are fairer, more compassionate, and truly reflect the needs of the individuals and communities that depend on them.
Our approach to ethical lived experience.
Thank you for considering sharing your story with us.
These principles set out what ethical involvement looks like at SUMMIT. They guide how we listen, how we work with people, and how we utilise lived experience to drive real-world change without harm, pressure, or exploitation.
For us, lived experience is not a buzzword.
It is the foundation of everything SUMMIT does and always will be. We work alongside people with lived experience as experts, decision-makers and partners in change, not as case studies.
All our projects delivered through SUMMIT Voices are fully independent and self-funded.
This means our work is shaped by the communities we serve, without external influence or conflict of interest.
All findings are made public and available to everyone at no cost.
SUMMIT will never profit from your story. Your experiences are not content to be sold, packaged, or used for gain.
We listen to lived experiences and, wherever possible, turn them into practical, real-world solutions.
Our work challenges inequality, promotes inclusion, and supports self-advocacy, shaped directly by the people most affected.
Lived experience is expertise.
People with lived experience help shape priorities, design projects, interpret findings, and influence decisions. We treat this expertise with the same respect as professional or academic knowledge and share power accordingly.
You are in control of your story.
You decide what to contribute, how much, when, and the methods you use to do so. Everything you choose to share with us will be treated with care and confidentiality, and any quotes used in future reports or resources will always be completely anonymous. Taking part is optional and can be paused or withdrawn at any time before publication, with no pressure, no awkwardness, and no consequences.
We are clear and transparent about how your story will be used.
We will explain exactly what we are asking you to take part in, where your contributions may appear, including reports, media, policy making, and resources, and what impact we hope it will have. If you have any questions we are only an email or phone call away.
Support is part of the process, not an afterthought.
We take a do-no-harm approach. Your involvement should never retraumatise you, put you at risk, or compromise your wellbeing. We offer support, check-ins, and signposting to the appropriate services when sharing difficult experiences. If you are already accessing a service delivered by SUMMIT, your decision to take part in or withdraw from these lived experience projects will never affect your access to that support.
GP Appointment Booking Survey
Many GP surgeries across Tendring have recently switched to using online booking systems such as Accurx. SUMMIT would like to hear your views on this change and understand how it has affected your experience of trying to see your local GP. We are running a short, independent survey to explore what works well and what could be improved when booking appointments. Your feedback will help us develop practical recommendations to improve access to GP services, and could also inform the development of future SUMMIT services so we can better support local people in our coastal communities.
The Neurodivergent Truth
This project is a large‑scale, collaborative exploration of what it truly feels like to be neurodivergent in Essex today. It is being led by neurodivergent staff members at SUMMIT and will be shaped by the experiences of people who are Autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, and more. We will be looking at both the strengths and benefits of being neurodivergent, alongside the barriers and challenges people face in everyday life, including work, education, relationships, mental health, substance misuse, and general participation in society. The aim is not just to gather personal stories, but to create real change. By working together, we hope to co-produce practical resources that help employers and service providers better understand, include, and support neurodivergent people.
Get in touch.
If you live in Essex, you can use the form on this page to tell us your story. You are welcome to remain anonymous if that feels more comfortable.
By sharing your experience, you are helping to build a more inclusive, understanding, and compassionate community. It also helps us identify where support is missing and deliver services that better reflect local needs.
We may include carefully anonymised quotes in our future reports or documents to help us evidence the need for change. Everything you share will be handled sensitively, respectfully, and ethically.