Lived Experience Consultant in Manchester

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'. We achieve this in two ways: improving lives on the frontline through delivery of public services and using our knowledge to change 'the system', fixing the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help.

In Justice, we work with young people and adults in custody and in the community, providing a range of services including offender management and resettlement, mentoring, veterans in custody, victim services, gangs work, and youth justice. We believe that with effective support mechanisms and the correct interventions, we can change service users’ ideology, helping them desist from crime and reach their true potential.

Catch22 is seeking passionate and creative individuals to join our Justice Hub as Creative Consultants. This is an exciting opportunity to use your lived experience of the criminal justice system to help shape, design, and influence the future of justice services. As part of our Justice Studio (Experts by Experience), you will bring your unique perspective, creativity, and insight to co-design workshops, consultations, and service development sessions. Working closely with Catch22 staff and other consultants, you’ll help ensure our services are inclusive, trauma-informed, and truly reflect the voices of those impacted by the justice system.

In this role, you’ll contribute to the design of programmes and interventions, provide feedback on existing models, and help develop creative materials such as campaigns, videos, or written resources. You may also support the recruitment and mentoring of new consultants and act as an ambassador for lived experience leadership in justice reform.

This is sessional work, with bi-monthly three-hour workshops (paid at £100 per session) and travel expenses covered. You’ll be part of a collaborative, supportive network committed to driving real and lasting change across the justice sector.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of the criminal justice system (directly or through a close family member)
• Passion for social justice and using experience to drive positive change
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in creative settings
• Reliability, time management, and commitment to professional development

Desirable:

• Experience in creative fields such as writing, media, spoken word, art, or design
• Experience in public speaking, peer mentoring, or advocacy
• Understanding of trauma-informed or co-production approaches

Those interested in applying for this opportunity should review the Job Description & Person Specification to find out more. If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please see our contact information on the Candidate Help Page. Please use reference REF3959C in your message so that we can identify the opportunity.

Contract: Sessional Hours & work pattern: This is sessional work, four three-hour workshops per year (paid at £100 per session) and travel expenses covered. No guaranteed hours. Salary: £33.33 per hour, equating to £100 per 3-hour session.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised. Where a deadline is advertised, Catch22 reserves the right to withdraw the post from advertisement without notice. Closing Date: 31st of July 2026. Catch22 reserves the right to withdraw the vacancy at any time, for any reason before the stated closing date.

We aim to review applications as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of interest we receive, we may not be able to contact all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful this time.

Screening: Successful admission to post subject to enhanced DBS check and employer Right To Work in the UK check. The post-holder must have right to work in the UK. Catch22 does not currently provide a licence to sponsor visas.

To Apply: Please provide your CV and cover letter, along with the completion of the screening questions to express your interest in this opportunity. Please note, in the interest of safer recruitment and ensuring that applicants are a right fit for the role, submitted applications must contain a CV, satisfactory responses to the screening questions, and information detailing interest in the role, to be considered for this position.

Catch22’s Commitment to Opportunity & Progression: At Catch22 we are proud of our commitment in supporting people develop in their careers and progress in our organisation.

Catch22’s Commitment to Ban the Box: Catch22 is proud to have “Banned the Box”. This means that we do not ask for candidates to disclose criminal convictions at the application stage. Instead, we invite disclosures at interview stage, and encourage them at the offer stage.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.