Why Lived Experience Matters: Introducing LEAP

The Good Company People Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

The Good Company People was born from real life. Our Co-Founder and CEO, Lucy Buck, began this journey while supporting her mum, Hazel, who lived with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. Hazel passed away in 2024, but her warmth, humour and determination continue to shape what we do. This experience helped build the model we now offer to others. One that is grounded in human connection, early support and the belief that you should not have to wait for a crisis to be seen.

Good Company is not just for people living with dementia. It is for anyone in later life who is feeling unsure, isolated or in need of connection. But our roots in caring, and in personal experience, continue to guide how we grow.

One of the ways we stay grounded in reality and develop new ideas that genuinely work is through LEAP.

What is LEAP?

LEAP stands for Lived Experience Advisory Panel. It is a regular group of Good Company members who meet to share their experiences, reflect on what is working and help shape what comes next.

Some members of the panel are living with dementia. Some are carers. Others are simply part of the Good Company community and want to give something back. What they have in common is lived experience. They know what it feels like to be in uncertain times, and they want to help make things better for others.

LEAP is not just about listening. It is about learning, improving and finding practical solutions. Members help us identify what needs to change and bring forward ideas that lead to more effective support.

Why it matters

We believe the people who use our support are the best people to help improve it. LEAP gives us a way to listen and learn from real stories, not just data or professional opinions. It helps us stay focused on what really matters, not just what looks good on paper.

The panel meets in person and sessions are shaped to feel safe, friendly and useful. There is no pressure to speak and no jargon to decode. People are welcomed with warmth and encouraged to share only what they feel comfortable with. It is more like a conversation than a meeting. And often there is cake.

What difference does it make?

LEAP has already shaped some of our most important work. For example:

• When we drafted our Community Standards, the panel helped rewrite them in plain English that sounded more like us

  
  

• Members suggested the idea for a table tennis group, which now runs weekly at the local leisure centre

  
  

• The panel helped write a report on what people need after diagnosis or during life changes, which was shared with researchers and local council teams

  
  

• Feedback from the group continues to improve how we run Clubs, Circles and other services

  
  

• Their real-life stories help guide our Know-How articles, making sure the advice we give reflects what people are really going through

  
  

• Practical ideas for new activities and access improvements have come directly from conversations in the room

  
  

One member told us:

“Waking up with nothing in your diary fills you with dread. You need structure, a plan. Weekends should feel different. Otherwise it’s all the same. That’s what Good Company helps with.”

Another shared:

“I knew something wasn’t right, but the doctor brushed it off. He passed the three-word test, so they sent us home. It took months to get the right diagnosis.”

These honest, lived perspectives are what shape our understanding and help others feel less alone. But more than that, they are helping us design better solutions and strengthen the support we offer.

A place for connection, not just consultation

LEAP is not just about feedback. It is a space where people grow in confidence, support each other and feel part of something bigger. Many members say it has helped them feel useful again. That they have something to offer. Because they do.

“Being part of LEAP made me feel seen. I realised I wasn’t the only one, and that what I had to say mattered.”

A better way forward

Good Company is shaped by people, not systems or labels. LEAP helps us stay close to the reality of people’s lives and ensures our work reflects their hopes, not just their needs.

If you are interested in joining the panel or learning more, we would love to hear from you. Your experience could help someone else feel less alone or lead to the next great idea.